Gas Today

February 2008

Pluto LNG commences construction

Woodside Petroleum’s $A12 billion Pluto LNG Project has signed several major contracts and commenced construction, set to be finished in 2010.

Sunshine to develop LNG plant

Sunshine Gas has signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) with Japan’s Sojitz Corporation to jointly develop a mid-scale $570 million LNG plant at Gladstone on Queensland’s central coast.

The NSW Government has said that the state’s current wholesale market arrangements are insufficient to maintain continuity of supply on a daily basis to natural gas customers in NSW, particularly in circumstances of high demand.

AGL and Arrow gas pipeline acquisition

AGL Energy and Arrow Energy officially took ownership of the merchant gas and pipeline businesses of Enertrade (Queensland Power Trading Corporation) in December of last year.

Australia deals LNG out to Asia

Opportunities may open for Australian companies as natural gas consumption in India has the potential to rise significantly, according to an ABARE report, 'Natural gas in India: prospects for LNG imports'.

Gas link for Metagasco and BP

Metgasco has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BP Australia to conduct feasibility studies for the extension of the planned Casino to Ipswich gas pipeline to BP’s refinery facilities at the Port of Brisbane.

New government, new policy - a new industry?

Australia is moving rapidly towards a carbon constrained economy with a new government at its helm. How will Australia make the transition, face the challenges and satisfy an increasing demand for energy and resources? The Australian Government has recognised that gas will play an important part in meeting these challenges. So what has the government promised to deliver?

Standards awards recognise industry greats

Australian Standards Gas Distribution Committee member Philip Colvin has been honoured with a Meritorious Contribution Award as part of the 2007 Standards Australia Awards which were presented in Melbourne in November 2007.

Reflecting on key outcomes of Energy 21C

The recent Energy 21C conference at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre attracted more than 2,000 delegates, providing a forum for industry leaders to address the challenges of energy transmission and distribution into the 21st century.

IGU - talkin’ gas all over the world

The International Gas Union (IGU), founded in 1931, is a worldwide non-profit organisation that aims to promote the technical and economic progress of the gas industry. Members of the IGU are associations and entities of gas industries that cover 95 per cent of global gas sales in 67 countries.

National Gas Supply Industry Passport

A new guideline published by the Energy Networks Association (ENA) ENA DOC 020 - 2007 National Gas Supply Industry Passport – Guidelines and Administrative Principles is now available on the ENA website for download.

Lessons to remember - from the old to the new

Diane Bienczycka, Senior Policy Adviser, ENA

The biggest energy reforms in over a decade applying to gas and electricity network businesses are beginning to crystallise. The new national electricity laws, regulations and rules entered into force on 1 January 2008. They will be closely followed by the national gas law, and regulations and rules that are soon to be introduced into the South Australian Parliament.

AGA - maintaining an industry focus

The Australian Gas Association (AGA) is best known for providing a world-class product certification service to the gas industry for around 50 years. In fact, AGA can trace its origins back to 1925. However, with a changing industry landscape over recent times, AGA customers have looked for a broadening of these services to include the certification of other “type tested” products such as plumbing (WaterMark) products and electrical items.

Rising stars: gas water heaters

The Federal Government has said it will work with industry and state and territory governments to gradually phase out greenhouse intensive hot water systems. Gas Today asked retailers about the future of gas hot water heaters under the new government and how they will meet the increasing demand for low greenhouse gas emissions products.

Retail regulation - leaving the past behind the face the present

Cameron O’Reilly, Executive Director, Energy Retailers Association of Australia

Every industry is in some way captive to its past. Energy Retailers Association of Australia Executive Director Cameron O’Reilly argues that the energy industry is more so than most.

Gas industry group tours Asia

An Overseas Study Tour to Asia is one of the primary activities conducted by the Australian Gas Industry Trust (AGIT) each year, and the 2007 tour covered Asia, with tour participants selected from across the industry value chain.

The Australian natural gas vehicle industry

Sean Blythe, Chief Executive, Advanced Fuels Technology

Sean Blythe looks at Australia’s natural gas vehicle industry, from its establishment in the 1980s, its development to date and what the future has in store for vehicles powered by Australia’s ‘natural’ fuel.

LPG cars a boon for business

Printer and photocopier servicing company Lanier Australia is using LPG Autogas vehicles to help it go green and slash fuel costs.

LPG - providing the Pacific Islands with a cleaner fuel alternative

Australia’s leading green energy retailer is also a major supplier of LPG to countries in the Pacific. With its sustainable approach to infrastructure, the future for LPG in the region looks bright.

Rocket scientists invent flat LPG tank

A space-saving LPG tank that can be mounted underneath a vehicle to preserve interior space is now available in Australia.

APPEA - adding gas to the mix

'Climate change' and 'energy' are three buzz words around which the world now turns. In Australia, gas is frequently added to the mix. Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Chief Executive, Belinda Robinson, spoke with Gas Today about the future of the Australian gas exploration and production industry.

A certificate for success: The UEG06 Gas Industry Training Package

Brad Flanagan, Coordinator Gas Industry National Training Advisory Group, EE-Oz Training Standards

Workforce training and development is an important function for any business, but businesses that operate in a highly regulated industry – such as the gas industry – require training and development processes that lead to industry-recognised endorsed competency standards. The UEG06 Gas Industry Training Package has been developed by the industry and endorsed by the Commonwealth Government of Australia as the document containing the nationally accredited qualifications and competency standard units for the Australian gas industry.

Results back to the office, without the fuss

The management of raw data is essential to success in the downstream gas industry but it can be complex and time consuming.

Kipper Gas Project gets green light

ExxonMobil Australia subsidiary, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, announced in December 2007 that the Kipper Gas Project in Bass Strait had been approved for development by the venture participants.

Innovative SPL gets gas connected

Stretching across southwestern Sydney, a new gas main – the Sydney Primary Loop (SPL) – has been successfully delivered into operations, connecting into the existing Primary Main Network that distributes natural gas to homes and businesses across Sydney.

Codmah delivers with western SPL alliance

As part of the Sydney Primary Loop (SPL) project, Codmah was contracted to work on the western section, including 14 km open cut pipeline construction and installation of two automatic line break valves (ALBVs).

NZ Flotech hits home run

Internationally successful New Zealand industrial equipment supplier Flotech has won its first major project at home, thanks in part to work done by the Industry Capability Network (ICN) to identify opportunities for Kiwi companies in large projects in NZ.

Condamine - mining to reduce emissions

A new gas-fired power station being built in Queensland will further the contribution natural gas makes to reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Pipeline industry meets to discuss ‘our energy lifelines’

The Australian Pipeline Industry Association’s annual convention was held in October 2007 at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast.

National Gas Law - streamlining energy in Australia

Danielle Kellahan, Australian Pipeline Industry Association Policy Adviser

The National Gas Law, to be implemented during 2008, will transfer the administration and enforcement of existing gas access regimes from state-based regulators to the national bodies, the Australian Energy Market Commission and the Australian Energy Regulator.

Bonaparte Basin

The remote Bonaparte Basin is the most northerly sedimentary basin in western Australia. But as the site of the Bayu-Undan field – the key driver of the Northern Territory’s LNG boom – and a number of undeveloped fields, the basin may soon prove to be more than it seems.

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