Ann: Santos welcomes IPC Narrabri Gas Project approval, page-2

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Santos Limited ABN 80 007 550 923
GPO Box 2455, Adelaide SA 5001
+61 8 8116 5000
www.santos.com
30 September 2020
Santos welcomes IPC Narrabri Gas Project approval and thanks the
Narrabri community for its strong support
Santos welcomes the New South Wales Independent Planning Commission’s (IPC) decision to
green light the Narrabri Gas Project with conditions and thanks the Narrabri community for its
strong support over many years.
Santos accepts the conditions proposed by the IPC and will now work with the Federal Department
of Agriculture, Water and Environment as it considers its recommendation to the Minister on EPBC
Act approval. Key to this recommendation will be that the New South Wales’ assessment process
has adequately addressed all relevant matters of national environmental significance.
Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher said the New South Wales
Government and IPC process has been comprehensive, transparent and inclusive, providing the
community with confidence the project has been properly evaluated and determined to be in the
public interest and capable of development without harm to water resources or the environment.
“Santos is excited about the prospect of developing the Narrabri Gas Project, a 100 per cent
domestic gas project that can provide the lowest cost source of gas for NSW customers,” Mr
Gallagher said.
“As the economy recovers from COVID-19, game-changing projects like the Narrabri Gas Project
are critical to creating jobs, driving investment, turbo-charging regional development and delivering
more competitive energy prices.
“This major step forward is welcome, but we must now gain the approval of the Federal Minister for
the Environment under the EPBC Act as well as other subsequent approvals.”
While these approval processes are under way, Santos will commence planning for workover
activities immediately on existing wells under its current exploration tenures. Once all approvals
are in place, this will be followed by a 12 to 18-month appraisal drilling program, including
expansion of our water monitoring network. This appraisal will inform the final plans for the phased
development of the project.
“IPC approval is a significant step forward for the Narrabri community, a majority of whom support
the project and the jobs, business opportunities, infrastructure and community investment that will
come with it.
“Santos is committed to our operational employees working and living locally with their families as
part of the Narrabri community.
“Santos already has appraisal wells feeding the Wilga Park Power Station powering the equivalent
of 32,000 households in north-west New South Wales, there are 16 Santos people and their
families living and working locally and we’re buying goods and services locally with a spend last
year of $2 million.
ASX/Media Release
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Santos Limited ABN 80 007 550 923
GPO Box 2455, Adelaide SA 5001
T +61 8 8116 5000 F +61 8 8116 5131
www.santos.com
“The IPC outcome confirms that we have relied upon the best science to ensure that the Narrabri
Gas Project can be developed safely and sustainably. We are committed to now delivering on our
promise to protect the environment and water resources as we proceed with project development.”
The Narrabri Gas Project has the potential to supply enough natural gas to meet up to half of
NSW’s natural gas demand where more than one million family homes, ~33,000 businesses and
~300,000 jobs rely on natural gas as a source of energy. With the commercial and industrial sector
currently making up almost 50 per cent of total gas consumption in NSW, reliable and
competitively-priced natural gas is essential for a strong NSW economy.
“Now all we want to do is to get on with creating jobs in New South Wales and Narrabri, and
making a real difference to people’s lives in rural and regional communities,” Mr Gallagher said.
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About Santos Ltd
A proudly Australian company, Santos is a leading supplier of natural gas, a fuel for the future
providing clean energy to improve the lives of people in Australia and Asia. Santos is already
Australia’s biggest supplier of domestic gas and aims to be a leading Asia-Pacific LNG
supplier. For more than 65 years, Santos has been working in partnership with local communities,
providing Australian jobs and business opportunities, safely and sustainably developing Australia’s
natural gas resources, and powering Australian industries and households. For more information
visit www.santos.com