Minister for Infrastructure and Planning The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
Friday, June 12, 2009
LNG Export Industry Powering Ahead
Another proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) project has been declared a “significant project” by the Queensland Government.
The multi-billion dollar Shell CSG (Australia) Pty Ltd project is the fourth LNG project in the Gladstone area to be declared a “significant project” by Queensland’s Coordinator-General Colin Jensen.
Mr Jensen will now oversee a streamlined whole of Government approval process through a rigorous Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
“The Bligh Government is committed to doing everything in its power to encourage an LNG industry and create jobs across Queensland,” said Infrastructure and Planning Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.
“Shell Australia and Arrow Energy Ltd have agreed to work together to investigate LNG developments in Queensland.
“Up to 3000 construction jobs could be created in one of the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects proposed in Australia.
“The proposed LNG facility is on Curtis Island opposite Gladstone, utilising coal seam gas developments in the Surat and Bowen basins.
“A gas pipeline from the Gladstone City Gate to Curtis Island would supply gas to the LNG plant where it will be processed and stored prior to export to international markets.
“This export project will enable the creation of a world scale long term industry for Queensland generating jobs and further investments at a time when many companies are scaling back,” he said.
Mr Jensen said a ‘significant project’ declaration is not an indicator of government support for a project, rather it signals the start of a whole of government environmental assessment process.
“This declaration signifies the beginning of a rigorous assessment process, which will consider the project’s environmental, economic and social impacts to determine whether the project is acceptable and what conditions for approval might be imposed,” Mr Jensen said.
The Department of Infrastructure and Planning is coordinating various stakeholder interests for all of the LNG projects proposed for Gladstone.
ENDS
Media – Thea Phillips 3224 8750
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