The ASD 400 million offshore Victoria (Australia) BassGas project had been given Federal government major projects facilitation status, Industry, Science and Resources Minister Nick Minchin has said. Construction of the project is expected to start in 2002, subject to federal and state government approvals, with first commercial gas supplies targeted by first quarter 2004. BassGas will draw on supplies from the Bass Strait Yolla field, boosting competition in the Victorian and South Australian gas markets. It is a joint venture of Australian Worldwide Exploration Ltd, Origin Energy Ltd , CalEnergy, a unit of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., Cue Energy Resources Ltd and Santos Ltd.
