PERTH--Western Australia's state government said it's looking for companies interested in building and operating a planned new 135 million Australian dollars (US$140 million) natural-gas pipeline in the south of the resources-rich state.
The government will seek expressions of interest in early to mid-November, with the preferred owner-operator to be selected by mid-2013, Western Australia's Premier Colin Barnett said in a media statement Monday.
The proposed 350-kilometer-long pipeline--capable of carrying 12 terrajoules of gas per day--will be designed, built and operated by the private entity, and is intended to supply more than 100,000 people. The government's Verve Energy unit will retain an interest in the venture, Mr. Barnett said.
The total cost and the extent of the government's financial contribution will be determined as part of the tender process, the statement added. However, early estimates were for a cost of A$135 million.
The government wants the pipeline to run between the port cities of Bunbury and Albany, it said.
As well as supplying gas to residents, it is expected to drive new investment in industries such as agriculture, mineral processing and timber, the statement added.
