Australian state rejects AGL Energy’s plan

Environmental dispute: Protesters against AGL’s natural gas import terminal in Western Port Bay gather in front of Parliament House on Spring Street in Melbourne. — Reuters

MELBOURNE: Victoria state yesterday rejected a plan by AGL Energy to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal, effectively killing a proposal designed to help fill an expected shortfall in gas supply in southeast Australia from 2024.

The state’s Labour government ruled against the project due to concern the import terminal would damage internationally recognised wetlands. The project was opposed by an unusual coalition of environmental, indigenous and community groups alongside conservative politicians.