nsw wants foreign investors to fuel csg , page-5

Minister Hartcher must be gleefully rubbing his hands together thinking of the export royalties from MEL/FLEX/ for export LNG. Newcastle is a long way from Gunnedah and Santos/TRU-Energy want that gas for domestic/Gladstone markets. The other two Dart and AGL don't have enough gas for export.

He can't be open about it without giving the shrieking NR Greenies a "social license" to go off their heads again about something other than csg.

A pipeline the short distance from Casino to Ballina would be so much more viable with active govt support and muscle shoving it along through the bureaucracy. And the state govt would only have to deal with pro-gas Richmond Valley Council and possibly pro-business Ballina. It is entirely possible to route the pipeline through state forests (not National Parks)which the govt itself own. No need to bother with the bone-headed obduracy of Lismore CC either.

(All this would be at odds with PH's until now stated preference for Gladstone.)

And if you were Chinese and wanted MEL gas for Gladstone and thought it could possibly go to off-shore NSW in 5/10 years time there would be pressure to commit now n'est pas?

hs