On 18 July 2024, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) made a draft decision to grant Power and Water Corporation (Power and Water) an exemption from sections 139, 140 and 141 of the National Gas Law (NGL) for the McArthur River Mining Pipeline (MRM Pipeline) pursuant to rule 34 of the National Gas Rules (NGR), subject to the conditions set out in section 4 of the draft decision.

We invited stakeholders to provide submissions to the draft decision by 8 August 2024. 

Late Submission

We received one late submission to the draft decision on 13 August 2024.

Extension of time limit

On 2 September 2024, we issued a notice to Power and Water extending the time limit for making a final decision on its gas ring-fencing exemption application, by 20 business days, in accordance with rule 12 of the NGR. 

On 4 October 2024, we issued a second notice to Power and Water extending the time limit for making a final decision on its gas ring-fencing exemption application, by 40 business days, in accordance with rule 12 of the NGR. The AER now has 40 business days after 4 October 2024 to make its final decision on Power and Water’s gas ring fencing exemption application. 

The AER will make its final decision on or before 29 November 2024.