Brisbane Times: Santos Backs Southern Route for Northern Territory Gas Pipeline Link

Santos has spoken out to firmly back the southern route for the proposed gas pipeline to be announced on Tuesday that would link the Northern Territory into the eastern states' grid, saying it would be of more benefit for the nation than the alternative route to Queensland.

"From a nation-building perspective, we believe the logical route is via Moomba, which has the processing facilities and infrastructure network to access all markets in eastern Australia," said Brett Woods, vice-president eastern Australia for Santos, which could supply gas into the pipeline.

Mr Woods' statement comes as NT Chief Minister Adam Giles, a strong supporter of the North East Gas Interconnector (NEGI) project, has signalled he will announce on Tuesday the preferred bidder to build the line, after four contenders were short-listed earlier this year.

Two of the bidders, APA Group and unlisted Jemena, have proposed to build the line using the Queensland route, from Tennant Creek to Mt Isa, which they say will be cheaper and quicker, and will not rely on any public funding. That route would benefit the Gladstone LNG export ventures, and mining industry gas customers in Queensland, and is favoured by the Queensland government. MORE