Jemena secures pipeline licence for Northern Gas Pipeline project in Australia

Energy infrastructure company Jemena has been awarded a pipeline licence for the $800m Northern Gas Pipeline (NGP) project by the Government of Northern Territory, Australia.

In addition to this, Jemena has obtained consent to construct the Phillip Creek Station Compressor Facility, north of Tennant Creek. The construction is expected to commence within a fortnight.

Jemena project director Jonathan Spink said: “This is good news for east-coast gas customers who will soon benefit from additional NT gas flowing into Queensland.

“Jemena is also well progressed on a feasibility assessment to expand and extend the NGP to the Wallumbilla gas hub.

“Once it’s built, Jemena will be able to easily increase the capacity of the NGP by either looping the pipeline or adding additional compression to it.

“This can be done much more efficiently and quickly than constructing a new pipeline, with the viability of the pipeline route having already been tested and cleared.”

Northern Territory minister for primary industry and resources Ken Vowles said: “Significant milestones have now been reached in the development of this major project.

“This is an important job-creating project for the territory, it will generate around 900 jobs during construction and will support our government’s plans to develop Tennant Creek as a resources industry services hub, which will see many on-going jobs.

“The Territory Labor Government has promised to restore trust by creating jobs and the construction of the Northern Gas Pipeline will help underpin that and drive development in the Barkly region.”

Vowles said that a thorough assessment of the Pipeline Management Plan, including the Environmental Management Plan, was undertaken and it included an independent review.

Following an assessment of the Northern Gas Pipeline’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), NT Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended an approval for the project to construct and operate the pipeline within the Northern Territory.

The NT EPA has made eight recommendations, which have been addressed as part of the Pipeline Management Plan and associated Environmental Management Plan for this part of this project.  

The recommendations from the Commonwealth environmental regulator have also been addressed as part of the Pipeline Management Plan.