NT: Palm Valley to Alice Springs Pipeline

NT: Palm Valley to Alice Springs Pipeline

The Palm Valley to Alice Springs Pipeline (also known as the Palm Valley Pipeline) is a transmission pipeline in the central region of the Northern Territory. The pipeline is owned by Australian Gas Networks (AGN) and is operated by the APA Group.

The Palm Valley to Alice Springs Pipeline is 156 km in length, has a nominal diameter of 200 mm, and a capacity of 30 TJ/day. The Palm Valley to Alice Springs Pipeline has two lateral pipelines, the Pine Gap Lateral (a 4.2 km pipeline located approximately 18 km south-west of Alice Springs) and the Owen Springs Lateral (a 5.9 km pipeline located approximately 18 km south-west of Alice Springs).

The pipeline was initially constructed to supply natural gas from the Palm Valley and Mereenie gas fields in the Amadeus Basin to Alice Springs. Since 2008, gas has also been supplied from the Blacktip gas field in the Bonaparte Basin via the Bonaparte and Amadeus Gas pipelines. The pipeline currently supplies gas to the Palm Valley Interconnect, Pine Gap Receipt Point, Owen Springs Delivery Point, Yirrara Delivery Point, The Ron Goodin Delivery Point and Norris Bell Gate Station. 

The Palm Valley to Alice Springs Pipeline is currently a non-scheme pipeline, and is subject to the access regime for non-scheme pipelines under Part 10 of the National Gas Rules (NGR). It was previously subject to the access regime for non-scheme pipelines under the former Part 23 of the NGR, which was replaced by Part 10.

On 30 November 2022, the AER granted a five year Category 2 and Category 3 exemption under Part 23 of the NGR for the Palm Valley to Alice Springs Pipeline. Due to reforms to the NGR, the exemptions transitioned to a Category 2 exemption under Part 10 of the NGR.

The Palm Valley Pipeline was initially subject to regulation as a covered pipeline under the Gas Code by the ACCC. However, no access arrangement was either submitted to or approved by the ACCC. In July 2000, following a recommendation from the NCC, the relevant minister decided to revoke coverage of the pipeline.

The pipeline was constructed in 1983. 

Pipeline details

State:

NT

Type:

Transmission

Capacity:

30 TJ/day

Regulation:

Non-scheme

Additional Regulation:

Category 2

Owner:

AGIG

Operator:

APA Group

Length:

156 km

Gas Type:

Natural gas

Contact us

Title Date Documents
Final recommendation on revocation of coverage - NCC 2000-07-06 Coverage determination
Minister’s decision on revocation of coverage 2000-07-26 Coverage determination
AER letter to AGIG re pipeline exemptions dated 30 November 2022 2022-11-30 Coverage determination
Palm Valley Pipeline Description Pipeline description
Palm Valley Pipeline map 2017-12-13 Pipeline description
AER Letter to AGN re Exemption Application - Palm Valley Pipeline 2017-12-13 Part 23 decision
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