The route for a potential new gas pipeline running from Queensland to the Northern Territory, is to be surveyed by the APA Group.
The company has been granted a pipeline permit from the Northern Territory Government to commence surveying a potential corridor within the Territory for the proposed North to East Australia (NEA) Pipeline.
The permit will enable APA to carry out surveys and plan the route for the proposed pipeline, which, the company says, has the potential to collect Beetaloo gas from multiple producers.
Although still in its early stages, the overall aim is for the NEA Pipeline to run from the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory to APA’s existing South West Queensland Pipeline, linking to APA’s east coast gas grid, and connecting to major Australian demand centres.
It would complement APA’s 37-kilometre-long Sturt Plateau Pipeline (SPP), which is nearing construction completion, and will flow gas to Darwin from mid-2026.
In September this year, APA received a pipeline licence from the NTG and an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with Traditional Owners, facilitated by the Northern Land Council, for the SPP, an estimated ~$66.5 million project and the first-stage link to enable Beetaloo gas to reach power generation assets in the Northern Territory.
“Beetaloo gas, delivered to southern markets via the NEA Pipeline, has the potential to ensure a reliable and affordable supply of Australian gas is available for the east coast, supporting Australian industry and households,” said Adam Watson, APA CEO and Managing Director.
“Importantly, it will marry domestic gas supply with demand, and help avoid the need to import higher cost LNG from global markets to meet our domestic energy needs.
“APA will undertake a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process throughout the early works program and beyond. Meaningful community and Traditional Owner engagement is a key priority across all our projects and this project will be no different.
The permit covers around 580 kilometres across the Northern Territory, with a survey corridor up to two kilometres wide and access tracks up to one kilometre wide.
Once the pipeline survey work is complete, APA will be able to apply for a separate pipeline licence, which will have a significantly reduced corridor width, before any construction could begin.
“This permit allows APA to get boots on the ground to work out the best route for a pipeline from the Beetaloo to the east coast,” said NT Minister for Mining and Energy, Gerard Maley.
“The Beetaloo Sub-basin has enormous potential, and granting this pipeline permit allows APA to undertake the surveys and investigations needed to move the NEAP forward.”
