global shift to lng makes sense (17-03-11)

this could be a good push for NGE



2348 GMT [Dow Jones] Australian companies with LNG projects in the works
outperforming, with Santos (STO.AU), Woodside (WPL.AU), Oil Search (OSH.AU) rare green
spots in a sea of red, rising 0.4%, 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. A global shift away from
nuclear power in response to the atomic plant crisis unfolding in Japan will spur a
scramble for Australian energy, catapulting the country ahead of Qatar as the
world's biggest supplier of LNG in the near future. Germany and Switzerland are
reviewing their energy strategies and China halted approvals for new nuclear power plants
pending changes to safety standards. Woodside rises after it discovers more gas offshore
Western Australia state, firming up prospects for an official approval of an expansion of
its Pluto LNG project this year. Santos doesn't produce LNG now, but it has stake in
three planned projects including a coal seam gas venture in Queensland, traditional
natural gas venture in Papua New Guinea with Oil Search and a floating LNG proposal
offshore northwestern Australia.