The Pike River Recovery Agency is looking for an electrical technician to help with the mine re-entry this year.
The second drilling platform of the Pike River Mine near Greymouth. Photo: AFP
Work will begin from next month to conduct a manned entry of the mine where 29 men were killed in 2010, and work out what happened.
The Recovery Agency is advertising for an electrical technician who would help complete operational elements of the re-entry.
Chief operating officer Dinghy Pattinson said they needed someone with underground experience, qualifications and a full New Zealand Electrical Licence, preferably with a Mining Endorsement.
Two further mining site roles will be advertised in upcoming weeks.
Last month, the agency activated a nitrogen-producing plant at the site. The plant pushes nitrogen through the mine's workings to purge methane from the atmosphere, and is essential to the safe re-entry to the mine.
The agency plans to fill the mine's tunnel with fresh air to allow re-entry, because the mine workings and drift tunnel were full of methane - a gas that is dangerous when mixed with fresh air.
The methane first has to be purged from the mine workings and tunnel by flushing the site with nitrogen.