The AEMC today made a draft rule that exempts the Northern Territory’s LNG projects from reporting gas flows that are upstream of their connection with the domestic gas market on the Natural Gas Bulletin Board. 

The draft rule aims to address concerns that, due to confidentiality requirements, the Northern Territory LNG projects may not continue to provide back-up gas supply into the domestic market if they are required to report on their upstream activities on the Bulletin Board.  

The draft rule provides both Northern Territory LNG projects - Darwin LNG and Ichthys LNG - with an exemption from reporting requirements under the National Gas Rules for the facilities that are upstream of the connection point with the domestic market. Any gas flows into the domestic market (via the connecting Wickham Point pipeline) would be reported on the Bulletin Board. 

The exemption is provided under circumstances in which gas flow into the domestic market occurs for the purposes of emergency back-up supply only. 

The buyer of emergency back-up supply, Power and Water Corporation, would be required to provide the Australian Energy Regulator with written notice of the reasons for emergency back-up supply on each day supply is required. The reasons permissible for emergency back-up supply under the exemption are limited to instances in which there has been a planned or unplanned outage at the Blacktip gas field and its associated supply infrastructure, including the Bonaparte gas pipeline. 

Submissions in response to the draft determination are due by 4 July 2019.

Media: Prudence Anderson, Communication Director, 0404 821 935 or DL (02) 8296 7817.