Up to 90 terrajoules of new gas supplies will flow into Queensland every day in 2019, with completion of the Northern Gas Pipeline running from Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory to the mining hub of Mount Isa.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan today welcomed the completion of the project which, when fully operational from next year, will transport gas 622 kilometres from fields in the Northern Territory.
Minister Canavan said the $800 million pipeline linked the Amadeus Gas Pipeline to the Carpentaria Gas Pipeline in Queensland, securing industry and jobs for decades to come.
“The owner and operator of the pipeline Jemena estimates that the project has created more than 800 jobs, including 268 jobs for Indigenous Australians and provided opportunities for numerous local and indigenous businesses in the north,” Minister Canavan said.
“The Northern Gas Pipeline will help ease supply pressures and enhance gas security for manufacturers, generators and households on the east coast. This means job security for workers, productivity for manufacturers and a reliable supply of gas for households.
“At the same time, it brings much needed development to the north and will be part of kick-starting the development of new onshore gas in areas like the Beetaloo Sub-Basin which has the potential to be a world-class gas province. If the optimism about the Beetaloo Sub-Basin is borne out, it could contain more than 200 years of Australian gas supply at current levels of consumption.
“I particularly welcome Jemena’s vision to increase the capacity of the pipeline and to potentially extend it through to Wallumbilla in southern Queensland. An expanded NGP could become the key gas source for the entire east coast market, as well as contributing to opening up other resource rich areas including in the Galilee Basin in Queensland.
“The NGP reinforces the consistent policy position of the Australian Government – that is, the best way to ensure gas supply security is to bring more gas suppliers and more gas to the gas market. New competition like that provided by the NGP will help bring down gas prices over the longer term.”
