CEO of the Australian Pipeline Trust (APA), Mr. Jim McDonald today advised that the
announcement by AGL confirming gas purchase arrangements from PNG was a very encouraging step in the provision of Northern Australian gas to South Eastern Australia.
This project will satisfy to a large degree the initial need for gas supplies at Moomba for onward transmission to South Eastern markets. The proposal will use the existing pipeline infrastructure to the maximum extent possible, much of it owned and operated by the Trust and will mean gas consumers across Eastern Australia would be able to access natural gas supplies from PNG.
While recognising the initial supply to Moomba and Sydney is now likely to be from PNG gas fields, provision of this infrastructure also opens the way for gas supply from Timor Sea and even possibly the North West Shelf via the Moomba hub.
APA has rights to participate in the PNG onshore gas pipeline project, and will be seeking to incorporate this with pipelines in which it already has ownership.

Jim McDonald
Chief Executive Officer