gas pipeline, page-23

THE FATE of Nhulunbuy will be known in 16 days, the Chief Minister said.
Terry Mills said mining giant Rio Tinto (which owns Pacific Aluminium) had set January 31 as a deadline.
The government is in talks with ENI and Santos to supply gas to the Bauxite mine at Gove.

Rio says the mines refinery which employees 800 workers will be closed if the negotiations fail.

Mr Mills told a public meeting in Nhulunbuy that he was doing all he could to seal the gas deal.
But he admitted that contingency plans had been drawn up if he failed.
His speech was greeted with a stony silence by residents and business people.