OREANDA-NEWS. Australian utility and gas group EnergyAustralia is considering the sale of its 22PJ (590mn m?) Iona gas storage plant in Victoria, after receiving unsolicited expressions of interest from potential buyers for the plant that supplies the Victoria and South Australia gas markets.

EnergyAustralia, which is owned by Hong Kong-based energy and infrastructure group CLP Group, said it has made no decision yet on the offers.

"It is appropriate that we give serious consideration to the offers, and to see if there may be others interested," the company said.

Iona is located near the 60PJ/yr Otway gas plant, which is owned by Australian utility and gas plant Origin Energy. Iona is also connected to the nearby Minerva gas plant, which is operated by UK-Australian resources group BHP Billiton, via the South East Australia gas pipeline that connects the Iona plant to Adelaide in South Australia.

Iona is one of eight gas storage facilities in east Australia with the latest one, the 1.5PJ Newcastle gas storage facility in New South Wales formally opened today by its owner Australian utility and gas group AGL Energy.