Origin Energy Limited (ASX:ORG) will sell five energy infrastructure and wind generation assets as part of its $800 million asset divestment program, with the auction scheduled to get underway in March, 2016. In recent meetings with potential buyers, Origin Energy has revealed plans to offload its Darling Downs and Port Campbell to Mortlake gas pipelines, the Mortlake Terminal Station and the Cullerin Range and Stockyard Hill wind farms. According to a presentation given to the buyers – and obtained by Street Talk - Origin Energy will write power purchase agreements, gas transmission agreements and tolling agreements for each of the five assets. It means the auction will line up existing pipeline and wind farm owners against low cost of capital superannuation investors and infrastructure funds.

Strategic buyers including APA Group (ASX:APA) and Australian Gas Networks Limited are expected to take a close look at the pipelines, along with QIC Limited and underbidders in the Iona auction including Retail Employees Superannuation Trust. Colonial First State Investments Limited and the likes of AMP Capital Investors Limited and Palisade Investment Partners Limited are also expected to run the numbers. Infratil Limited (NZSE:IFT) and Infrastructure Capital Group Ltd will take a look at Origin Energy's windfarms. Cullerin Range, located in NSW's Southern Highlands, is a 30megawatt farm, while Stockyard Hill is a development project in Victoria, which will cost about $1 billion to build.

The biggest question will be whether Origin and its adviser, Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, can catch a mystery offshore or Chinese acquirer as has been in case in recent infrastructure auctions including Pacific Hydro and Port of Darwin. Bidders left Origin's briefings expecting the auction to begin with confidentiality agreements and an information memorandum in March and wrap up before the end of the financial year of 2015. Expectations are the assets should fetch more than AUD 800 million.

UBS Group AG (SWX:UBSG) is running the gas asset sales in a separate process.