During late February, the Yolla production platform was transported to the Bass Strait and was installed at the Yolla field location, keeping the project on track for gas production by the end of the September quarter.

In addition to the platform milestone, the BassGas joint venture has completed the offshore pipeline and shore crossing at Kilcunda and is nearing completion of the onshore pipelines.

Progress is also being made on the construction at the Lang Lang gas plant.

Geoff Wearne, General Manager of BassGas for Origin, said of the approvals, “I believe this is testament to the thorough approach we have taken to planning our activities and working in conjunction with the relevant government and community bodies.”

BassGas also plans to begin the pre-commissioning stage of the project in July and tests will be carried out on the various components and systems to ensure they function properly.

The BassGas Project involves the development of the Yolla gas and condensate field, located in Bass Strait, 147 kilometres from the southern Victorian coast, which will supply enough gas to service up to 67 terajoules of gas sales a day, together with substantial volumes of condensate and LPG.

It is expected that once the project comes on stream in the second half of 2004, it will supply around 10 % of the Victorian natural gas market over the next 15 years.