MELBOURNE (Xinhua): Australia has approved a new offshore gas project near the Twelve Apostles, a major tourist landmark on the southern coast of Victoria, to bolster gas supply to the country’s east coast.
A new petroleum production licence had been granted for the Annie gas field in the Otway Basin off the Victorian coast, to be developed by Amplitude Energy using existing infrastructure, Minister for Resources Madeleine King said on Thursday.
Amplitude Energy said its Annie gas field will supply about 4 per cent of the Australian east coast's gas needs for five years. The site is about 10 kilometres offshore near Twelve Apostles.
King said in a statement that the project is expected to supply gas exclusively to the domestic market, "easing the risk of potential shortfalls for Australia's east coast".
Gas from the Annie field, in water depths of approximately 55 metres, will be processed at the Athena plant, which has a capacity of 150 terajoules per day, she said, adding that all projects will be subject to environmental approvals and public consultation requirements.
Victoria’s state government said the Annie project could begin supplying gas from 2028 and could provide more than a third of Victoria’s annual gas use for industries unable to switch to electricity.
However, environmentalists slammed the approval, warning new gas projects undermine climate goals and the shift to electrification. -- Xinhua
