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| Tasmanian Gas Pipeline | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tasmanian Gas Pipeline |
| Type | natural gas |
| Country | Australia |
| Length km | 370 |
| Diameter mm | 250–350 |
| Start | Longford |
| Finish | Hobart |
| Established | 2002 |
| Owner | APA Group |
| Operator | APA Group |
Tasmanian Gas Pipeline The Tasmanian Gas Pipeline is a natural gas transmission link connecting mainland Australian gas supplies to Tasmania via an undersea section and overland corridors, supplying urban, industrial, and power generation consumers in Tasmania. The project intersects matters addressed by the Bass Strait energy infrastructure, Hydro Tasmania electricity systems, Spirit of Tasmania maritime operations, and interstate gas markets governed by bodies such as the Australian Energy Regulator and the Australian Energy Market Operator. The pipeline's engineering, environmental assessment, and commercial arrangements involved stakeholders including the Tasmanian Government, Commonwealth of Australia, and private energy companies such as the APA Group and Origin Energy.
The pipeline provides a link between the Victorian gas hub at Longford, Victoria and distribution networks serving Hobart, Launceston, and regional Tasmanian localities, interfacing with facilities such as the Devonport port, the Bell Bay Power Station, and industrial sites in the Derwent Valley. Regulatory frameworks that influenced the pipeline include the National Gas Law and provisions overseen by the Minister for Resources and agencies like the Environmental Protection Authority (Tasmania). The infrastructure supports sectors represented by organizations such as the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Industry Group, and utilities including TasNetworks.
Planning began amid debates involving the Commonwealth of Australia and the Tasmanian Government about energy security, influenced by precedents like the development of the Moomba to Sydney Pipeline and the expansion of the Victorian gas market in the 1990s. Environmental assessments referenced work by the Australian Conservation Foundation and studies similar to those for the Basslink electricity interconnector. Construction phases drew on expertise from contractors linked to projects like the North West Shelf and the Curtis Island LNG developments. Financial and contractual arrangements involved parties such as APA Group, Origin Energy, AGL Energy, and investment frameworks comparable to transactions seen with the Australian Pipeline Trust.
The corridor comprises overland sections across Gippsland and Flinders Island linkages, an undersea crossing of the Bass Strait, and Tasmanian mainland routing to urban centers including Hobart and industrial precincts at Bell Bay. Technical specifications mirror standards applied in pipelines like the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline and include high-strength steel, cathodic protection systems comparable to those used on the North West Shelf pipeline, and metering installations interoperable with the Australian Gas Market Operator frameworks. Diameter and pressure regimes were selected in line with engineering practices from projects such as Eni Australia developments and international standards upheld by bodies like Standards Australia.
Ownership and operation have been held and managed by corporations such as APA Group with commercial arrangements involving shippers including Origin Energy and AGL Energy, under regulatory oversight by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Energy Regulator. Operational coordination interfaces with network operators like TasNetworks for distribution, and with market bodies such as the Australian Energy Market Operator for scheduling and balancing. Maintenance contractors have included firms with portfolios spanning projects like Chevron developments and services similar to those supplied to the Curtin University research facilities in pipeline integrity.
The pipeline influenced Tasmanian industry sectors represented by the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and supported power stations comparable to Bell Bay Power Station and heavy users similar to operations at Nyrstar and other industrial employers. Economic analyses referenced models used by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and investment assessments analogous to those for the Basslink interconnector. Environmental reviews engaged organizations such as the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service, examining marine impacts in the Bass Strait and terrestrial impacts across Tasmanian landscapes including proximity to areas managed by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.
Operational incidents and routine maintenance have been managed under regimes similar to incident responses for the Moomba to Sydney Pipeline and emergency plans aligned with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority for maritime sections. Integrity management has used inspection technologies and practices comparable to those deployed by Chevron and international operators, including inline inspection tools, cathodic protection monitoring, and corrosion control programs resembling those at the North West Shelf facilities. Coordination with emergency services such as the Tasmania Fire Service and regulatory notifications to entities like the Australian Energy Regulator are standard practice.
Proposed upgrades and planning draw on precedents from projects like the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline expansions and considerations similar to capacity works on the Moomba to Adelaide Pipeline System, with stakeholders including the Tasmanian Government, APA Group, and market participants such as Origin Energy evaluating options for capacity increases, compression additions, and integration with renewable gas initiatives promoted by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and research from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Discussions also reference interconnection strategies analogous to the Basslink electricity link and policy frameworks set by the Australian Energy Market Commission and federal ministers overseeing energy and resources.
Category:Energy in Tasmania Category:Natural gas pipelines in Australia