Finding the source of a potential natural gas leak at Leader has proven elusive for SaskEnergy. The Crown energy company says over the last 36 hours they, along with their contractors, have been working around the clock to find the leak which was suspected to be the source of a localized odour in the area.

SaskEnergy has swept the area of concern six times and found no natural gas leaks. The energy company also brought in a third party leak survey specialist contractor which it says has the most sensitive gas detection equipment available. Overnight the contractor surveyed every street and alley in Leader and their results indicate no leaks. SaskEnergy also inspected locations along its infrastructure, above ground and buried, and found no leaks.

The source of the odour remains unknown but at this time SaskEnergy says it can confirm there are no natural gas leaks in the town of Leader. As an extra layer of safety a third party specialist has been scheduled to return to Leader in February to conduct another leak survey.

Because natural gas is odourless, an odourant – that “rotten egg” smell is added to natural gas as a safety measure. SaskEnergy says it does occasionally respond to odour calls caused by other sources like sewage lagoons and old oil or gasoline storage containers.

An employee with the Town of Leader reported an odour in the vicinity of the junction of Highways 32 and 21 near Leader shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday.