Dampier Bunbury Pipeline (DBP) will go-ahead with a $700 million expansion of the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP). The Stage 5A expansion is the second major expansion of the DBNGP since the consortium of owners took over the pipeline in October 2004. As with the Stage 4 expansion, all the additional capacity will be fully contracted to new and existing shippers under long term arrangements.

Combined, the Stage 4 and Stage 5A expansions represent an investment of about $1.13 billion in the pipeline. Construction of this latest expansion is expected to begin early next year with the first capacity to be commissioned during the first quarter of 2008, with the balance by the third quarter of the same year. The expansion will increase production by about 100 terajoules per day (TJ/d).

Stage 5A comprises the laying of additional pipe alongside the existing pipeline in a process known as looping. Stage 5A comprises ten loops totalling in excess of 570 km. Stage 5A will be the first of a proposed 3 part expansion of the pipeline, known as the Stage 5 expansion. Timing of Stages 5B and 5C is dependant on a range of issues, including the price and availability of gas to support new resource processing and power generation developments.

Saipem has been awarded the turn-key contract for the the design, construction, installation and pre-commissioning activities of the Stage 5A expansion.

JFE Steel Corporation and Metal One Corporation have been appointed as the sole suppliers of line pipe for the expansion project. The two companies will supply approximately 82,000MT of 26" OD API 5L X-70 Line Pipe to DBNGP (WA) from October-November 2006.

Dampier Bunbury Pipeline is the trading name of the DBNGP group of companies, ultimately owned by the consortium that purchased the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline in October 2004. DBP is majority owned by DUET – Diversified Utility and Energy Trusts - with Alcoa and Alinta minority owners.