PLANS ADVANCE FOR AUSSIE PIPELINE

April 3, 1995
A combine of Australia's BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd. and Canada's Westcoast Energy Inc. is poised for the next step in a proposed gas pipeline to connect new areas and improve supply to cities in Southeast Australia.(60859 bytes) The 700 km system, with a possible start-up in late 1997, would run from Longford, Victoria, northeast to Sydney, New South Wales. It would serve 65,000 people who do not have gas supply, while improving supplies to Canberra and Port Kembla and increasing

A combine of Australia's BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd. and Canada's Westcoast Energy Inc. is poised for the next step in a proposed gas pipeline to connect new areas and improve supply to cities in Southeast Australia.(60859 bytes)

The 700 km system, with a possible start-up in late 1997, would run from Longford, Victoria, northeast to Sydney, New South Wales. It would serve 65,000 people who do not have gas supply, while improving supplies to Canberra and Port Kembla and increasing emergency gas supplies for Sydney.

BHP-Westcoast's next step will involve further environmental and market studies.

Initial environmental studies assessed six potential routes for the line. The selected route is thought to have the least environmental effect.

The line will require a 20 m easement during construction.

A decision on whether to proceed with construction is expected in mid-1996.

BHP-Westcoast said a change in government policy, designed to establish natural gas trading between states by July 1, 1996, provided impetus for the proposed line.

Westcoast, of Vancouver, B.C., is participating in the project through a wholly owned subsidiary, Westcoast Energy Australia Pty. Ltd.

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