Pilbara gas flows to eastern goldfields through new high pressure gas transmission pipeline
| Date: | Friday, 30 January 2015 |
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Construction of new $140 million gas transmission pipeline underway
The construction of a $140 million gas transmission pipeline is set to dramatically change the energy supply for the State’s Eastern Goldfields region.
The Eastern Goldfields Gas Pipeline (EGGP), a Lead Agency project with Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP), is being built under agreements with APA Operations Pty Ltd, a subsidiary company within the APA Group (APA), and AngloGold Ashanti.
The 292 km high pressure gas transmission pipeline will deliver natural gas from the Murrin Murrin gas lateral pipeline to the Ashanti owned Sunrise Dam and Tropicana gold mines.
DMP Lead Agency Project coordinator Graham Cobby said the project was very significant infrastructure for WA which will open up economic benefits in regard to future energy supply in a remote region.
“The new EGGP will deliver gas from offshore fields off Western Australia’s Pilbara coast to the two mines for local power generation, which will reduce the reliance on diesel fuel and LNG transported by road,” he said.
“Access to a reliable and cost competitive energy supply that natural gas can provide is vital to these companies ensuring their mining operations have long-term viability. This is a great response to changing gas supply and demand patterns right across the country.”
Gas will be transported a total distance of about 1,400 km through three of APA’s existing interconnected pipelines – the Goldfields Gas Pipeline, the Murrin Murrin Lateral and the new EGGP which will incorporate up to 16,500 lengths of pipeline.
Mr Cobby said engineering, design and procurement work for the high pressure pipeline had already begun with the first gas delivery planned for January next year.
“Construction work for associated infrastructure and facilities soon be under way, and it is anticipated the project will provide some 300 jobs during the construction phase,” he said.
Baseline flora and fauna, heritage and archaeological surveys have been conducted along the proposed pipeline route and the WA Environmental Protection Authority has assessed the project.
The Commonwealth have determined the project is “not a controlled action” under the EPBC Act 1999.
The third shipment of pipeline, manufactured in China, was transported to Kalgoorlie this week.
