Multinet Gas
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy, Natural gas distribution |
| Predecessor | Metropolitan Gas Company, Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Melbourne's inner and outer eastern suburbs, Yarra Ranges, South Gippsland regions, Victoria, Australia |
| Products | Natural gas distribution |
| Owner | Cheung Kong Infrastructure (CKI) |
| Parent | Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) |
Multinet Gas Networks (MGN) operates as an Australian energy provider and stands as one of the three natural gas distribution systems within Victoria. It forms a component of the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG), alongside Australian Gas Networks (AGN) and the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBP).
Serving roughly 703,000 residences and 16,000 commercial clients, MGN covers Melbourne's inner and outer eastern suburbs, the Yarra Ranges, and South Gippsland regions. The network transports gas from the transmission system via smaller diameter pipelines operating at lower pressures. Its infrastructure includes 164 km of licensed transmission pipelines, 9,650 km of distribution mains with operating pressures ranging from 7 kPa to 515 kPa, and 179 regulator stations.
Within the network lies over 1,400 km of low-pressure mains (7 kPa), some constructed from cast iron dating back to the 1880s. These older pipes are susceptible to water infiltration during periods of heavy rainfall, which can disrupt supply reliability. To address this, MGN is implementing a mains replacement initiative designed to substitute all low-pressure mains by 2031 with high-pressure polyethylene pipes inserted into existing cast iron conduits. This approach reduces property disturbance and enhances pipeline durability.
History
The initial development of Melbourne’s gas infrastructure was undertaken by the Metropolitan Gas Company prior to the 1880s. In 1951, ownership transferred to the government-operated Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria (G&FC), which managed the city's gas network until its privatization in 1997.
Currently owned by the DUET Group, MGN became part of Cheung Kong Infrastructure (CKI) following their acquisition in 2017 for A$7.4 billion. CKI also holds stakes in several Australian energy networks including electricity distributors United Energy, CitiPower, and Powercor, as well as Australian Gas Networks, which operates in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia. Post-acquisition, CKI controls three out of five electricity distributors and two out of three gas distributors within Victoria. Since 2018, Multinet Gas has functioned under AGIG alongside other CKI-owned Australian gas distribution entities.
Future
As a member of the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG), MGN is actively progressing renewable gas initiatives nationwide, including various renewable hydrogen projects. A notable pilot program, HyP SA, commenced in May 2021 by introducing up to a 5% blend of renewable hydrogen into the gas supply for more than 700 homes in Mitchell Park, South Australia. Encouraged by positive outcomes, this project is expanding to serve over 3,700 households in 2023.
To facilitate the shift toward renewable gases, MGN has undertaken comprehensive hydrogen readiness assessments. These evaluations include revising operational procedures, conducting weld integrity tests on pipelines, replacing equipment incompatible with hydrogen with higher-specification alternatives in hazardous zones, and reviewing overall network suitability. Findings demonstrate that approximately 99% of MGN’s infrastructure is prepared for full transition to 100% hydrogen utilization.