Application for a 15 year no-coverage determination for proposed APLNG pipeline

On Wednesday 2 May 2012 the Council received an application under the National Gas Law (NGL) from Australia Pacific LNG Gladstone Pipeline Pty Limited (APLNG) for a 15 year no-coverage determination for APLNG's proposed pipeline in Queensland, running from the Surat Basin to Curtis Island. If granted, the effect of such a determination is to exempt the pipeline from coverage under the NGL for 15 years from its commissioning.

The public version of the application (excluding material identified as confidential by the applicant) is available under the Application tab on the navigation pane to the left.

The Council commenced its public consultation on the application on 4 May 2012 when it invited submissions to be made on the application. Submissions on the application closed at 5.00pm on Friday 25 May 2012. The single submission received is available under the Submissions on application tab to the left. 

The Council has determined that the APLNG pipeline is a transmission pipeline. The relevant Minister is therefore the Commonwealth Minister for Energy and Resources the Hon. Martin Ferguson AM MP. Having considered the submission and the application, the Council proposes to recommend to the relevant Minister that he decide to make a 15-year no-coverage determination in respect of the APLNG pipeline. The Council's draft recommendation (including the pipeline classification decision) is available under the Draft recommendation tab to the left.

Interested parties were invited to make written submissions on the draft recommendation before Wednesday 11 July 2012. The Council did not receive any submissions. 

On 17 July 2012, the Council sent its final recommendation to the relevant Minister.  The Council has also sent the final recommendation to the applicant and published it at the Final recommendation tab to the left.

On 28 August 2012 the Commonwealth Minister for Energy and Resources, Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, decided to make a 15 year no-coverage determination in respect of the APLNG Pipeline. This decision is in line with the Council's recommendation.

The Minister's letter to the Council President advising of this decision and providing the Minister's Statement of Reasons is available under the Outcome & subsequent events tab.

If you would like to be kept informed of developments with the application, please download and complete the Registration of Interest form available under the application tab and email it to us at APLNG@ncc.gov.au.

The Council's guide to the National Gas Law is available for download on the Council's Guides and Templates page.