The PNG gas pipeline project: Australian newspapers comments
Asia Pulse, April 4 - Comalco, which had given much hope to East Malaysian state of Sarawak that its proposed $A1.4 billion ($US849.52 million) alumina refinery would be sited in that state, has decided to opt for Gladstone in Qeensland as its preferred choice.
What swung in Gladstone's favour is the $A3.7 billion ($US2.25 billion) Papua New Guinea-to-Gladstone gas pipeline which is expected to be a major fuel source for the refinery.
Full article: sg.biz.yahoo.com
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PNG Gas Line A Step Closer - The Canberra Times, April 4
Australian aluminium company Comalco confirmed on 3 April 2000 that it had selected Gladstone in Queensland as the site for its new refinery. The $A1.4 billion aluminium refinery will be powered by gas drawn from the Papua New Guinea pipeline, and only requires one more feasibility study for the construction phase to begin.
Chief executive Terry Palmer said it would be at least the end of 2000 before construction begins on the project, with the first aluminium due for production by mid 2003, and a 1.4 million tonnes production rate expected after that.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie praised the company's decision to select Gladstone as the site for the refinery, with the project likely to provide a significant boost to the Papua New Guinea-Queensland natural gas pipeline.
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Jobs In The Pipeline - The Courier-Mail, April 4
Mining giant Comalco's announcement of plans to build an $A1.4bn plant in Gladstone is welcome news in the public and private sectors. Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says the announcement, coming just after plans for a $A1.12bn magnesium project in Rockhampton and a $A600m Roma fertiliser factory were announced, prove that Queensland is "the growth state of Australia".
He is obviously relieved, as the Queensland and Australian Government threw $A250,000 in incentives into the deal to lure the company out of a proposed Malaysian alternative. Meanwhile, PNG Gas is applauding the deal as it renders more viable a plan to build a pipeline from Papua New Guinea to Queensland. The Comalco refinery would take 27 petajoules of gas from the pipeline, a large amount considering that Queensland currently demands only 40 petajoules.
PNG gas officials say gas delivery in the north-west of Australia opened the area up to huge industrial development and they believe that the process can be repeated in Queensland. However creation of the pipeline still depends on whether oil giant Exxon decides to integrate its massive oil reserves into the project.
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Refinery Set To Trigger State Boom - The Courier-Mail, April 4
Comalco has formally announced plans to build an $A1.4bn alumina refinery in Gladstone in a move expected to create 1,150 new jobs. Executives at the mining giant confirmed on 3 April 2000 that the Queensland city was chosen over a competing site in Asia. The refinery is expected to add $A500m a year to the Queensland economy and create 750 jobs during the construction phase, with 450 permanent jobs available once the plant is completed.
The plant will also render more viable a plan by United States energy company Chevron to build a $A2bn pipeline from Papua New Guinea to the Queensland coast. The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union claims Comalco will use foreign suppliers for many of the plant components, denying Queensland of an extra 12,000 jobs. But Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says a $A250m incentives agreement signed with Comalco requires it to use local suppliers that offer competitive prices and products.
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City Powered Up By $1.4Bn Refinery - The Australian, April 4
The industrial giant Comalco has selected the Queensland port city of Gladstone as the site for its new $A1.4 billion alumina refinery. The city was selected ahead of contending sites (including Malaysia) on the strength of a $A250 million state and federal government incentives package and the proposed $A3.5 billion Papua New Guinea gas pipeline, which will carry gas from that country directly to Gladstone.
The move, which will result in the creation of 1,150 jobs (700 in construction and 450 in operation) and the injection of an annual sum of $A500 million into the state economy, backs up the claims of State Premier Peter Beattie that Queensland is the Australian hub of industry.
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Comalco settles on refinery site - The Australian, April 4
COMALCO may bring a partner into its proposed $1.4 billion alumina refinery after finally declaring the central Queensland industrial port of Gladstone as its preferred site.
The selection of Gladstone over Sarawak, Malaysia, is a significant step for the long-awaited 1.4 million tonnes-a-year refinery ? which has been on Comalco's planning horizon for more than 20 years ? and strengthens the viability of the proposed $3.5 billion Papua New Guinea-to-Brisbane gas pipeline. |
