PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Queensland’s A$60-billion gas industry is expected to benefit from the newly completed North West Surat basin hub substation.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the Yuleba North substation would act as the central point for more than 200 km of new high-voltage transmission lines, supplying power to six gas processing facilities owned by Santos Gladstone liquefied natural gas (GLNG) and Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG).
“The completion of the Yuleba North substation marks another significant step in our work to extend the existing high-voltage transmission network in the North West Surat basin,” Pitt said.
“Powerlink’s construction work has injected over A$14-million into the North West Surat basin local economy in the first five months of this year.”
The APLNG and GLNG nonregulated projects were expected to cost around A$506-million in acquisition and construction. It was further estimated that electricity demand in the North West Surat basin would increase from about 100 MW to 600 MW before 2016, more than peak demand for the whole Sunshine Coast and surrounding hinterland.
“That’s exactly why we kept our energy assets in state hands, to continue the delivery of essential energy services and infrastructure such as this.”
Powerlink has completed construction of six of its seven substations in North West Surat, with Blythdale substation due for completion in August.
Energy Minister Mark Bailey said the final section of transmission line was due for completion by early 2016.
“The transmission lines between Yuleba North and Blythdale substations will be the last link in the network. This electricity network provides crucial support for Queensland’s coal-seam gas industry, generating significant economic benefits for the state.”