GAS PIPELINES – AUSTRALIA

Importing LNG cheaper

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 11-Jun-20

Jemena MD Frank Tudor says a gas pipeline linking Western Australia to the east coast is not a viable option, as the cost of transporting gas across the country would be prohibitive. He argues that a proposed LNG import terminal at Port Kembla would be much more cost-effective than the $6bn transcontinental pipeline that has been put forward by the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission. Jemena plans to link its eastern gas pipeline to the import terminal.

CORPORATES
JEMENA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL COVID-19 COORDINATION COMMISSION

Woodside boss rejects west-east gas pipeline

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Original article by David Swan
The Australian – Page: 22 : 14-Nov-18

The economic viability of a gas pipeline linking Australia’s east and west coasts has been questioned by Woodside Petroleum CEO Peter Coleman. He argues that a "virtual pipeline" linked to LNG import terminals would be a more sensible solution to the east coast gas crisis than the construction of a west-east pipeline, which would cost around $5bn. Coleman has also advocated an increase in Australia’s hydrogen exports.

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, THE MELBOURNE MINING CLUB

APA shares plunge after Canberra blocks CKI buy bid

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Original article by Matt Chambers, Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: Online : 9-Nov-18

Shares in APA Group fell by 10 per cent on 8 November after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg indicated his "preliminary view" on Hong Kong-listed CK Infrastructure’s $13 billion bid for the pipeline operator. Frydenberg stated he did not consider the bid to be in the "national interest"; he is expected to make his final decision in around two weeks. Superannuation fund infrastructure investor IFM is seen as the local entity most likely to make an approach to APA with a bid if Frydenberg’s views remain unchanged; any Australian-based bid for APA is expected to be lower than CKI’s

CORPORATES
APA GROUP – ASX APA, CHEUNG KONG INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, IFM INVESTORS PTY LTD, WOOD MACKENZIE, COOPER ENERGY LIMITED – ASX COE, DUET GROUP, MOODY’S ANALYTICS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Hanson warns against bid for gas pipelines

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 19-Sep-18

Cheung Kong Infrastructure’s $13 billion takeover of pipeline operator APA Group remains subject to approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board. However, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson opposes the deal, arguing that key infrastructure should remain locally-owned, whether by governments or the private sector. Hanson has vowed to campaign against the deal if it receives government approval, while Liberal senator Jim Molan has also called for the deal to be blocked.

CORPORATES
APA GROUP – ASX APA, CHEUNG KONG INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, ONE NATION PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, IFM INVESTORS PTY LTD, HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY LIMITED, CENTRE ALLIANCE

Watchdog to rule on CKI’s takeover of APA

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: Online : 13-Sep-18

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has approved CK Infrastructure’s $13 billion takeover of pipeline operator APA Group. The merger creates a massive pipeline company with significant infrastructure assets on both sides of the country. The Foreign Investment Review Board must now give its consent for the Hong Kong-based CKI’s bid at a time when there is a lot of political scrutiny over high gas prices. JP Morgan expects that the FIRB will approve the bid, while UBS anticipates a decision by 4 December, the date on which the transaction is due to take place.

CORPORATES
CHEUNG KONG INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, APA GROUP – ASX APA, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, TRANSURBAN GROUP LIMITED – ASX TCL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

DUET investors buoyed by CKI’s $7.3b offer

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 & 24 : 6-Dec-16

Shares in DUET Group closed at $2.74 on 5 December 2016, after reaching an intra-day high of $A2.82. Hong Kong-based Cheung Kong Infrastructure has proposed to pay $A3 per share for the energy infrastructure group, whose assets include the Dampier-Bunbury gas pipeline in Western Australia. However, DUET has noted that the offer is unsolicited and not binding, and there is no certainty that CKI will make a formal bid. Mark Busuttil of JP Morgan says the offer represents full value and a rival bid is unlikely.

CORPORATES
DUET GROUP – ASX DUE, CHEUNG KONG INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LIMITED, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, RARE INFRASTRUCTURE, ARGO INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX ARG, UNISUPER LIMITED, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, 4D INFRASTRUCTURE PTY LTD, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, AUSGRID PTY LTD, STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

APLNG to sell gas on local market

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 24 : 7-Sep-16

Surplus gas from the Origin Energy and ConocoPhillips-led Australia Pacific LNG project will be made available to domestic users rather than exported. APA Group will operate a 50km pipeline on behalf of APLNG that will be used to supply the eastern states with coal-seam gas that is surplus to export requirements. The Shell-owned Queensland Curtis LNG project also supplies surplus gas to the domestic market, as prices are higher than in the spot market.

CORPORATES
ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, CONOCO (UK) LIMITED, AUSTRALIA PACIFIC LNG LIMITED, APA GROUP – ASX APA, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC, QUEENSLAND CURTIS LNG PTY LTD, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, GLADSTONE LNG PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

IFM ready to snap up oil assets

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 5-Mar-15

IFM Investors CEO Brett Himbury has indicated that the group is looking to invest in Australian oil and gas pipeline assets. Potential acquisitions could include the Gladstone LNG pipeline in Queensland and the Australia Pacific LNG pipeline, which may both be put on the market. IFM recently missed out on the sale of BG’s gas pipeline in Queensland, which will be acquired by APA Group

CORPORATES
IFM INVESTORS PTY LTD, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, GLADSTONE LNG PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA PACIFIC LNG LIMITED, BG GROUP PLC, APA GROUP – ASX APA, DUET GROUP – ASX DUE, FREEPORT LNG DEVELOPMENT LP, QIC LIMITED, AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED, CHINA INVESTMENT CORPORATION