$245 million gas pipeline expansion

THE owner of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline has announced plans to spend around $245 million expanding its capacity by about 40 terajoules per day, after finalising contractual arrangements with shippers. Dampier Bunbury Pipeline (DBP) said the expansion, to be known as Stage 5A (2), would increase the full haul capacity of the pipeline by about 40 TJ/day to about 825 TJ/day. Stage 5A (2) is underpinned by long term gas transmission contracts and is fully funded through a combination of new debt and equity facilities. DBP executive chairman Stuart Hohnen said the new 40 TJ/day of capacity was in addition to the 100 TJ/day being provided by the current Stage 5A expansion. “This is the third expansion project initiated by the current owners of the DBNGP since they took over ownership in October 2004,” Mr Hohnen said. “It brings the total new capital investment in the pipeline to approximately $1.35 billion since May 2005.” Mr Hohnen said Stage 5A (2) would deliver new capacity to existing and new customers in 2009 and 2010. The bulk of the expansion will involve additional pipeline looping, approximately 140km in total. Construction will begin in 2009, and DBP has entered into a commitment with Metal One for the purchase of the necessary pipes. A tender process for the construction of the additional looping will be conducted during 2008. Dampier Bunbury Pipeline is the trading name of the DBNGP group of companies, ultimately owned by the consortium that purchased the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline in October 2004. DBP is majority owned by the DUET Group, with Alcoa and Alinta minority owners. - Edited announcement