APT's managing director Jim McDonald said no financial details were available, but some recent media reports have said the cost could be about A$650 million. In a statement to the Australian stock exchange, ANZ Infrastructure Services and APT said the Spie Capag-Lucas joint venture, which recently built the Seagas pipeline in southern Australia, is the consortium construction partner. The contract is subject to final approval by the board of Alcan, which is expected in June; construction will commence in 2006, allowing for gas delivery to Alcan at the end of 2007. The Blacktip field, in permit WA-279-P around 250km SW of Darwin, will be developed via a remotely-operated wellhead platform. Gas will be brought ashore via a 110-km pipeline to an onshore gas plant on the shore of the Bonaparte Gulf near Wadeye in Northern Territory, and the new land pipeline will then traverse east to Gove.