Coalition’s Gas Plan for Victoria Enters Next Stage with EOI

Reticulated natural gas is a step closer for communities across country Victoria with the Coalition Government seeking industry interest in delivering innovative Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) technologies to expand access to natural gas.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan announced Regional Development Victoria was calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from companies for the delivery of natural gas to priority towns using CNG and LNG as part of the next phase of the Coalition Government’s $100 million Energy for the Regions Program.

“Through the EOI process the Coalition Government will engage with natural gas suppliers who have the capacity to provide natural gas to smaller rural communities utilising CNG, LNG or other technologies,” Mr Ryan said.

“New and emerging technologies such as CNG and LNG have the potential to deliver on the Coalition Government’s commitment to provide a lower cost energy alternative to towns in regional Victoria at a comparable price and level of service to natural gas sourced from a conventional pipeline.

The priority towns for the natural gas roll out include Avoca, Lakes Entrance, Invermay, Winchelsea, Heathcote, Orbost, Warburton, Marong, Bannockburn, Terang, Maldon, Wandong-Heathcote Junction and Koo Wee Rup.

The call for Expressions of Interest in alternative technologies follows an earlier phase of the Program (closing on 30 November 2012) where Victorian gas distribution businesses have been offered fixed subsidy ‘bounty’ amounts to supply priority towns utilising conventional pipeline technology

The Coalition Government’s preference is to supply natural gas to priority towns using conventional pipelines but the opportunity to develop alternative gas delivery solutions will apply to those remaining priority towns not taken up under the bounty process,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Coalition Government is determined to deliver natural gas to more regional Victorians and is vigorously exploring all options to deliver on this important commitment,” Mr Ryan said.

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LNG World News Staff, November 07, 2012