The $430 million upgrade of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline was officially opened today, while work on a further $700 million expansion continues.
A statement by Acting Premier Eric Ripper is pasted berlow:
A significant milestone has been reached today in the $1.1 billion upgrade of the Dampier-to-Bunbury natural gas pipeline.
Acting Premier and State Development Minister Eric Ripper was in Gingin today at one of the pipeline's compressor stations, to congratulate the Dampier Bunbury Pipeline consortium on completion of Stage 4, as well as the beginning of Stage 5A of the upgrade.
The 1,600km pipeline, which connects natural gas fields from the Carnarvon Basin to customers in the State's South-West, is being expanded to boost gas supply capacity.
Mr Ripper said the pipeline's expansion was vital for the State's gas needs.
"The Dampier-to-Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline is one of Western Australia's most critical pieces of energy infrastructure," he said.
"The extension of the pipeline is vital to meet the growing demand for natural gas from the commercial, industrial and residential sectors of our economy.
"With the very significant natural gas reserves off the north-west coast and WA's booming industry, gas is a crucial means of meeting the State's growing energy demand.
"I congratulate Dampier-Bunbury Pipeline on honouring the expansion commitment it made when it bought the pipeline in October 2004."
The completed Stage 4 upgrade, worth $430 million, has increased the pipeline capacity by more than 100 terajoules per day to almost 700. It involved the installation of a pipeline loop downstream of each of the 10 compressor stations located along the pipeline, as well as new compressor units at eight of the stations.
The $700 million Stage 5A will increase the pipeline capacity by a further 100 terajoules. The expansion will require the installation of an additional 570km of pipe loops downstream of each of the 10 compressor stations. Restaging and system upgrades will also be carried out at all the compressor stations.
Mr Ripper said Stage 5A was expected to be completed by the end of March 2008.
