I cant find where it says Anna Bligh made an announcement over the weekend. I can only deduce that this message was made on 11am Friday as per the articles date and per her Ministerial Media Statement (below); you ask "1)Why on earth would we get the premier making a follow up announcement." maybe she made the statement because she was asked by a journalist (as below).
JOURNALIST: (inaudible) Cougar Energy trial has stopped (inaudible)
PREMIER: The trial of Underground Coal Gasification by Cougar Energy in the southwest of Queensland has been ceased by the Department of Environment and Protection Agency. Obviously we were absolutely committed to only letting this trial continue if we were satisfied it could meet all of the environmental standards after a very comprehensive review. Its clear that it cant do that and it will not proceed. I know theres been some speculation about the announcement today. Can I say we gave a commitment to the company that they would be given certainty by today and its the mid-year review thats actually changed because of flooding. Ok?
TREASURER: Thanks.
JOURNALIST: Can I just ask the future of that industry (inaudible)
PREMIER: Well weve put a moratorium on any further applications for that sort of process. We did that as I recall Cathy, and Im happy to confirm it, about two years ago. We said we would let those that currently had approval, and there were three of them go to trial but we would put a moratorium on any further approvals til we was the outcomes of the trials. This particular company will not be allowed to proceed but there are the other two trials. We wont make a decision on that technology until we see the outcome of those trials but we certainly wont be lifting the moratorium until weve seen the outcome.
Cheers, Jonathan
LNC Price at posting:
$2.40 Sentiment: None Disclosure: Held
