hey, all good and interesting points made in the above posts.a...

hey, all good and interesting points made in the above posts.

a couple of things grab me about this puzzle.

I think it would be simply crazy for LNG/Chinese to put ANY store in the premise that they can rely on gas from MEL for their F/L project.
I know thats not what MEL s/h want to hear, but i have a really uneasy feeling that MEL will face a fire-storm of opposition when they try and drill further wells, construct a pipeline, etc. That area seems to be the centre of co-ordinated opposition. Just my opinion.

The other comment is that wrt F/L and the Chinese, I think the LNG supply is second-prize.
I think their intent is on the technology, and proving up that technology.
They have continually stated that.
Plus a plant exporting less than 1.0mtpa is chicken feed to them.
It would only light up Tainammen Square for 3 weeks!

there's more sub-plots than Big Brother at work here.

Whilst the CHinese typically seem to like to drag these negotiations on and on, at least we have an end-point here ie that 30 June 2012 deadline for the Ports Authority lease.

SO we will have an outcome by then.

I'm with Tui - $1 p/s!
cheers