The Alice Springs Distribution Network (ASDN) is a distribution pipeline servicing Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. It is owned and operated by Australian Gas Networks, which is part of the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group.
The ASDN is approximately 37 km in length and delivers approximately 3.4PJ/year to approximately 1 135 customers. Natural gas is supplied to the ASDN from the Palm Valley and Mereenie gas fields in the Amadeus Basin via the Palm Valley to Alice Springs Pipeline. Since 2008, gas has also been supplied from the Blacktip gas field in the Bonaparte Basin via the Bonaparte, Amadeus and Palm Valley to Alice Springs pipelines.
The ASDN 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.
The AER granted a five year Category 3 exemption under Part 23 of the NGR on 13 December 2017 and 30 November 2022. Due to reforms to the NGR, the exemption transitioned to a Category 2 exemption under Part 10 of the NGR.
The ASDN 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 ASDN.
