A COURT hearing over the explosion that killed four workers at the then Chevron Pembroke Refinery seven years ago has been put back to next month.

Valero Energy UK Limited and B & A Contracts Limited are to face charges under Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The companies had been due to appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court Today (Monday) but the case has now been adjourned until Thursday, October 11.

The charges relate to the deaths of Dennis Riley, Robert Broome, Andrew Jenkins and Julie Jones and major injuries to Andrew Phillips who were all working on the Amine Recovery Unit when an explosion and subsequent fire took place in June 2011.

At the time of the incident the refinery was operated by Chevron Limited, but ownership changed in August 2011.

Announcing the decision to prosecute in July, HSE’s deputy director field operations, Jane Lassey, said: “Following a painstaking and extremely thorough investigation, much of which was conducted jointly with Dyfed-Powys Police, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.”

A spokesman for Valero, said: "We can confirm we have been informed that the Health & Safety Executive is to bring proceedings against Chevron in relation to the incident at Pembroke Refinery in 2011.

"Valero itself is named as a party to the proceedings simply because of its subsequent acquisition of the refinery."