Construction of the $300 million SEA pipeline in Australia from Victoria to Adelaide was given the go-ahead for a midyear start when the Victorian goverment issued the final permit to build the system.

A joint venture of Origin Energy and Australian National Power (ANP) will build the line.

The permit was the last step in the regulatory process governing the planned 422-mi gas pipeline. Permitting also clears the way for the joint venture to finalize project financing.

Gas for the pipeline will be supplied from the Minerva gas field some 9 mi offshore Port Campbell in southwest Victoria, as well as from the Yolla gas field 62 mi offshore Western Port.