Gas and fuel corporation of victoria
Encyclopedia
The Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria was a government-owned monopoly supplier of household gas in Victoria
, Australia
.
In 1951, the Victorian government took over two of the three main gas utilities in Melbourne - the Metropolitan Gas Company and the Brighton Gas Company. In 1971 the Corporation acquired the Geelong Gas Company
, one of only two remaining private gas companies in Victoria at the time.
One of the first tasks of the Corporation was the construction of a centralised brown coal fuelled gasification plant at Morwell, to replace the number of smaller town gas producing gasworks
scattered throughout Melbourne. The plant opened in 1956 and used the German Lurgi process to produce gas that was transferred to Melbourne
via a high pressure gas pipeline.
The production of Syngas
started in the 1950s, which is a process that converted waste gases from oil refineries
to a useful energy product. In 1966, thirty percent of gas was being produced from residual oil, thirty percent from refinery gas and LPG, thirty percent from Lurgi gas, and less than ten percent by carbonization of black coal. Natural gas
was discovered in Bass Strait
in 1965, and a conversion program took place over a 20 month period, ending in December 1970, which required converting around one million appliances to operate on natural gas
.
In July 1997 the Gas and Fuel Corporation was disaggregated into three divisions: gas distributor and retail companies, a gas transmission company and an independent Market Operator, VENCorp
. The distribution, retail and transmission companies were subsequently privatised by the Kennett Government
, along with the State Electricity Commission of Victoria
, Victoria's main electricity utility.
The corporation's former headquarters, the Princes Gate Towers on Flinders Street
, were then demolished to make way for the Federation Square
development.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In 1951, the Victorian government took over two of the three main gas utilities in Melbourne - the Metropolitan Gas Company and the Brighton Gas Company. In 1971 the Corporation acquired the Geelong Gas Company
Geelong Gas Company
The Geelong Gas Company was a private company set up to produce and distribute town gas in the city of Geelong. From a gasworks in North Geelong it converted coal into town gas for use in homes and industry...
, one of only two remaining private gas companies in Victoria at the time.
One of the first tasks of the Corporation was the construction of a centralised brown coal fuelled gasification plant at Morwell, to replace the number of smaller town gas producing gasworks
Gasworks
A gasworks or gas house is a factory for the manufacture of gas. The use of natural gas has made many redundant in the developed world, however they are often still used for storage.- Early gasworks :...
scattered throughout Melbourne. The plant opened in 1956 and used the German Lurgi process to produce gas that was transferred to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
via a high pressure gas pipeline.
The production of Syngas
Syngas
Syngas is the name given to a gas mixture that contains varying amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Examples of production methods include steam reforming of natural gas or liquid hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen, the gasification of coal, biomass, and in some types of waste-to-energy...
started in the 1950s, which is a process that converted waste gases from oil refineries
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
to a useful energy product. In 1966, thirty percent of gas was being produced from residual oil, thirty percent from refinery gas and LPG, thirty percent from Lurgi gas, and less than ten percent by carbonization of black coal. Natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
was discovered in Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
in 1965, and a conversion program took place over a 20 month period, ending in December 1970, which required converting around one million appliances to operate on natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
.
In July 1997 the Gas and Fuel Corporation was disaggregated into three divisions: gas distributor and retail companies, a gas transmission company and an independent Market Operator, VENCorp
VENCorp
VENCorp was responsible for the efficient operation of gas and electricity industries in Victoria, Australia. VENCorp, which was established in December 1997, was a Victorian State Government-owned entity within Victoria's privatised energy industries...
. The distribution, retail and transmission companies were subsequently privatised by the Kennett Government
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
, along with the State Electricity Commission of Victoria
State Electricity Commission of Victoria
The State Electricity Commission of Victoria was a monopoly electricity generation, transmission and supply utility located in Victoria, Australia...
, Victoria's main electricity utility.
The corporation's former headquarters, the Princes Gate Towers on Flinders Street
Flinders Street, Melbourne
Flinders Street is a notable street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Running roughly parallel to the Yarra River, Flinders Street forms the southern edge of the Hoddle Grid. It is exactly one mile in length and one and half chains in width...
, were then demolished to make way for the Federation Square
Federation Square
Federation Square is a civic centre and cultural precinct in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
development.