Blue Energy Bowen Gas Pipeline
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Blue Energy Bowen Gas Pipeline, also referred to as Moranbah to Rolleston Gas Pipeline, is a proposed natural gas pipeline.[1]
Location
The pipeline would run from the proposed Bowen Gas Project in the Bowen Basin, Queensland to Gladstone, Queensland, where it would connect to the Gladstone LNG Terminal.[2]
Project details
- Operator: Blue Energy[1]
- Owner: Blue Energy[1]
- Parent company: Blue Energy[1]
- Capacity: 300 terajoules per day[1]
- Length: 500 kilometers[1]
- Status: Proposed
- Start year: 2023
Background
In June 2017, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build the pipeline was signed by Blue Energy and the APA Group.[3]
In April 2020, Blue Energy announced that it had begun a pre-feasibility study for the project and was discussing it with the federal and Queensland governments.[1]
In July 2021, it was reported that Blue Energy showed continuing focus on long-term supply commitments for the pipeline project during the ongoing pre-feasibility study, and that they had signed a MOU to convert pilot gas to hydrogen instead of flaring it.[4][5]
The 2021 Australian National Gas Infrastructure Plan mentions this pipeline as one of three potential options to expand gas in the Bowen Basin, so it is still considered proposed.[6] Arrow Bowen Pipeline, Blue Energy Bowen Gas Pipeline, and Galilee to Moranbah Gas Pipeline are three candidate routes for delivering natural gas from the North Bowen Basin if it is further developed. While there were no requirements on potential ownership of these routes, the NGIP mentions the need for such infrastructure to be in place by 2028 to avoid gas shortfalls.
In December 2021, the Queensland Government published the "Bowen Basin Concept Study Final Report", where Blue Energy's Bowen Gas Pipeline was also identified as one of the candidate routes for delivering gas from the Bowen Basin.[7] The study concluded that there was a strong risk of shortfalls in gas supply to Australia's East Coast in the short term, as well as a need for additional production to begin in the mid 2020s.[7][8] The study also concluded that the Bowen Basin had potential to provide a new source of gas, as long as related pipeline infrastructure was developed.[7][8]
In a report published by Blue Energy in March 2022, the company responded to the results by saying that "the study is a game changer for [Blue Energy], which is perfectly positioned to deliver."[8] In the same report Blue Energy highlights that the "key to initiate significant development of the Bowen Basin is the construction of a pipeline", that their agreements with Origin and Energy Australia "underpin the viability of the North Bowen Basin Gas pipeline", and that "firm commitment for the development of the pipeline would be a positive catalyst for [Blue Energy]."[8]
In 2023, Blue Energy received approval for 530 new wells in Queensland; however, according to an article published in InQueensland, "the company does not yet have a production license or binding contracts and needs a crucial gas pipeline to connect to the east coast gas market."[9] The approval for the wells prompted strong opposition among environmentalists and locals, including Lock the Gate Alliance.[9]
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Blue Energy works to progress Bowen Basin gas pipeline project, Energy Magazine, May 1, 2020, accessed Aug. 9, 2021.
- ↑ Bowen Basin, Blue Energy, accessed Aug. 9 2021.
- ↑ Esmarie Ianucci, New pipeline mulled for Blue Energy’s Bowen basin gas project, Mining Weekly, Jun. 20, 2017, accessed Aug. 9 2021.
- ↑ Lorna Nicholas, Blue Energy continues focus on long-term gas supply agreements, as Bowen pipeline study progresses, Small Caps, July 30, 2021, accessed Aug. 9, 2021.
- ↑ Lorna Nicholas, Blue Energy to supply hydrogen to Stanmore Resources by converting pilot gas, Small Caps, Jun. 22, 2021, accessed Aug. 9, 2021.
- ↑ "Australia National Gas Infrastructure Plan". Australian Government. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Queensland Government - Department of Resources (2 December 2021). "Bowen Basin Concept Study Final Report" (PDF). Retrieved August 11, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Blue Energy (3 March, 2022). "Blue Energy (BLU) - Bowen Basin Update" (PDF). Blue Energy. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 McCarthy, John (March 24, 2023). "There's a blue over Blue as gas miner wins approval for 530 new wells in Qld". InQueensland. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
