APA Group’s new 293km Eastern Goldfields Pipeline has officially opened, with Mines and Petroleum Minister, Bill Marmion, calling it a ‘game-changer’.
The $140million pipeline is constructed and owned by APA Group and was completed in nine months, ahead of schedule.
It’s made up of 16,700, 18m lengths of line pipe, extending its interconnected Goldfields Gas System to almost 1,800km.
The pipeline aims to bolster the development of new mining projects and increase returns from existing operations in the Eastern Goldfields.
The pipeline extends from the existing Murrin Murrin/Yarraloola terminus of the main Goldfields Gas Transmission Pipeline to AngloGold Ashanti Australia’s Sunrise Dam Gold Mine and on to Tropicana Gold mine.
Mr Marmion said the pipeline will help to energise the Eastern Goldfields.
“This is a game-changer for the area, with eight operational or proposed projects in line to benefit, potentially employing 3,000 people,” Mr Marmion said.
“While Sunrise Dam and Tropicana gold mines will reap the rewards of dependable, cleaner fuel, some of the State’s most exciting new gold, uranium and rare earths ventures are now within reach of the gas network.
“Not only did the pipeline support up to 330 jobs during construction, it will underpin even more jobs and opportunities in this rich and diverse mineral province.”
Mr Marmion said the pipeline was a great example of how lead agency work by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) and industry collaboration could drive down costs and deliver infrastructure ahead of schedule.
APA Group collaborated with AngloGold Ashanti Australia, local pastoralists, the shires of Laverton and Menzies, and the DMP to complete the project.
“The pipeline is a major milestone but I believe even more discoveries will be made in the vicinity, with the State Government’s successful Exploration Incentive Scheme helping fund deep drilling, plus seismic and airborne geophysical surveys,” Mr Marmion said.
APA Managing Director, Mick McCormack, also paid tribute to the focus and commitment of all parties involved in bringing the project from concept to reality.
“This is a special day for APA as the opening of a new pipeline that will support growth in the communities it services is not an everyday occurrence,” Mr McCormack said.
“It is a shining example of what can be done when industry partners, a progressive government and supportive local authorities and communities collaborate so effectively.
“We are delighted to have delivered on our gas transportation commitments to AngloGold Ashanti which underpinned development of the EGP and construction links to Sunrise Dam and Tropicana mines.”
Extensions could see gas supplied to the Granny Smith gold, Gruyere gold, Mount Morgan gold, Red October gold, and Mount Weld rare earths operations.
Pipeline extensions could also supply the proposed Mount Morgan and Gruyere gold projects and the Mulga Rock uranium project.
