Operators of a major coal seam gas project in Queensland say a “significant milestone” has been reached after receiving state environmental approval.
The Australian Pacific Liquified Natural Gas (APLNG) joint venture between Origin Energy Ltd and ConocoPhillips says it has received conditional approval from the Queensland government.
The environmental approvals cover the development of a gas field occurring over a 30-year period, a 450 kilometre pipeline and an LNG facility on Curtis Island.
Gaining approval was a “significant milestone”, APLNG project director Page Maxson said.
“The stringent conditions contained in the (Queensland) coordinator-general’s report, including detailed ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements, should give the community confidence,” Mr Maxson said.
“The project will form part of a burgeoning world scale, long term industry in Queensland, utilising Australia Pacific LNG’s substantial coal seam gas resources in the Surat and Bowen Basins,” he said.
As part of the environmental impact consultation process, APLNG met with more than 6,000 stakeholders.
The report by the Queensland coordinator-general will be provided to the federal government for further consideration and approval.
At 1039 AEDT, shares in Origin were up 11 cents, or 0.66 per cent, at $16.68.
