Earning community trust to operate – Northern Gas Pipeline

Abstract

The Northern Gas Pipeline (NGP), is a 622-km gas pipeline in outback Australia that will connect gas reserves in the Northern Territory to the east coast gas market. With the current east coast gas crisis and continuing pressure to reduce coal-fired base load power, this project creates a new market to deliver additional gas to the east coast. The project includes the construction of the pipeline and two compressor station facilities at the start and end of the line: the Phillip Creek Compressor Station, which includes gas processing infrastructure, and the Mount Isa Compressor Station. The AU$800 million project began in November 2015 and first gas is scheduled to flow in late 2018. The bid to contract the pipeline included a range of local and Indigenous commitments that would maximise local participation in the project, ensuring that the social licence to achieve land access and government approvals was realised while keeping to a very aggressive timetable. Jemena worked closely with local businesses, communities and Traditional Owners to provide training and development opportunities, employment and other social support services. This approach has meant that the project is on track to deliver this nationally significant gas pipeline under budget, ahead of the contractual schedule requirement, while meeting or exceeding all local obligations and commitments.