Australia Pacific LNG Project Gains Federal Environmental Approval

Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited today gained Federal environmental approval for its coal seam gas (CSG) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

Australia Pacific LNG is a 50:50 incorporated joint venture between Origin and ConocoPhillips.

The project involves the development of Australia Pacific LNG’s substantial CSG resources in the Surat and Bowen Basins; building a 450 km transmission pipeline; and construction of a multi-train LNG facility on Curtis Island, near Gladstone.

Australia Pacific LNG Project Director, Mr Page Maxson, welcomed the Government’s decision, reaffirming Australia Pacific LNG’s commitment to managing potential environmental impacts of the project.

“Approval is conditional on a large number of environmental strategies and ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements being put in place. The conditions outlined in today’s approval complement those contained in the Queensland Coordinator-General’s report and reinforce the commitments made in our EIS,” Mr Maxson said.

“Australia Pacific LNG will pursue high environmental, community consultation and development standards not only during the construction period but also throughout the ongoing operational life of this exciting project.

“The Project builds on Australia Pacific LNG’s existing business which provides one third of Queensland’s current gas requirements and stands to deliver significant opportunities for many local communities as well as broader economic benefits,” Mr Maxson said.

About the EIS process

An EIS is a document prepared to describe the potential impacts of a proposed activity on the environment. An EIS describes the impacts, and documents ways to avoid, minimise or mitigate potential impacts.

In April 2009, the Queensland Coordinator-General declared the Australia Pacific LNG project a significant project under the State Development and Public Organisation Act (1971), and the EIS process commenced.

The draft EIS Terms of Reference were made available for public comment by the Coordinator-General from August to October 2009, and were subsequently finalised.

The draft EIS for the Project was lodged with the Queensland Government on 29 January 2010 and the EIS was released by the Coordinator-General on 29 March 2010 for public comment and examination by government advisory agencies.

To support the consultation process, Australia Pacific LNG met with more than 6,000 stakeholders including landowners and non-government organisations during an 18 month period. Thirty-six formal submissions were received from government agencies and the public, all of which were considered as part of the Coordinator-General’s report.

In November 2010, the Queensland Government granted approval of the project’s EIS, subject to conditions outlined in the Coordinator-General’s report.

Following this, the Coordinator-General’s report was referred to the Commonwealth Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities for further assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

On 22 February 2011, the Commonwealth Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities granted Federal environmental approval.

About Australia Pacific LNG

Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited is a 50:50 incorporated joint venture between Origin Energy Limited and ConocoPhillips which combines Origin’s 13 and ConocoPhillips 25 years of CSG experience, as well as ConocoPhillips 40 years experience in operating and developing LNG facilities. Australia Pacific LNG is already producing almost 40 per cent of Australia’s total CSG production to meet domestic market requirements. Australia Pacific LNG holds the largest CSG reserves in Australia. Australia Pacific LNG’s Project stretches from the Surat and Bowen Basins along a 450km pipeline to a site at Laird Point on Curtis Island off Gladstone. Origin is Australia’s largest integrated energy company and ConocoPhillips is a leader in the development of LNG Projects internationally including the existing plant in Darwin, Australia.

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Source: Origin Energy, February 22, 2011;