Expert Panel to Study Proposal Related to Proposed Gas Pipeline Connecting Northern Territory to Australia's East Coast

A panel of experts will spend this month assessing the nine responses submitted for development of a gas pipeline connecting the Australian state of Northern Territory to the East Coast.

“The North East Gas Interconnector is a critical piece of economic development infrastructure and a priority Major Project for the Territory Government,” Chief Minister Adam Giles said.

Estimates point that Northern Territory has more than 200 trillion cubic feet of gas resources in six onshore basins and more than 30 trillion cubic feet of gas offshore.

“This project will help unlock those onshore and offshore gas assets,” Giles said.

The Northern Territory Government has granted Major Project Status to the proposed gas pipeline and has commenced a competitive bid process to identify proponents to build, own and operate the pipeline.

The nine responses to the Request for Initial Proposals will now be evaluated by an expert panel comprising two private sector members and two senior public servants.

“It is expected the evaluation process will be completed by the end of March. We know that this project is time critical so we are hoping the competitive process will be finalised in late September 2015, with Contractual and Financial Close shortly thereafter,” Giles said.