Australia approves massive coal seam gas expansion in Queensland until 2081
Consensus Summary
The federal government approved a massive coal seam gas expansion in Queensland’s Surat and Bowen basins, allowing Australia Pacific LNG to drill up to 1695 new wells and build 1545km of pipelines until 2081. The project, a joint venture between ConocoPhillips, Origin Energy, and Sinopec, is expected to produce 2033 petajoules of gas and operate until 2061 with an extension for environmental compliance. Both sources agree on the scale of infrastructure and emissions—9m tonnes from construction/operation plus 111m tonnes from burning the gas—while noting over 16000 existing wells have already scarred the landscape. Supporters like the government and APLNG highlight job creation and energy security, framing it as essential for domestic supply and export contracts. Critics, including the Climate Council and Lock the Gate, condemn the approval as incompatible with Australia’s net-zero targets, comparing it to 'lighting another cigarette while trying to quit.' The Guardian underscores the project’s role in prolonging fossil fuel profits, while ABC emphasizes its economic and regional benefits, including $60 billion in investments and 126 environmental conditions. Disagreements arise in framing—whether the focus is on emissions risks or economic gains—but both agree the project is contentious and will dominate Queensland’s energy landscape for decades.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The federal government approved a coal seam gas expansion project (Australia Pacific LNG) in Queensland’s Surat and Bowen basins until 2081.
- The project includes up to 1,695 new gas wells, 1,545km of gas and water pipelines, and three processing facilities.
- The project is expected to produce about 2,033 petajoules of gas and operate until 2061, with an extension to 2081 for environmental compliance.
- The project’s public environment report estimated 9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions during construction and operation, plus 111 million tonnes from burning the gas.
- Australia Pacific LNG is a joint venture of ConocoPhillips, Origin Energy, and Sinopec.
- The project is subject to 126 environmental conditions, including annual emissions reductions and net-zero emissions by 2050 under the Safeguard Mechanism.
- Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024, with the project supplying both domestic and export markets.
- Queensland’s Surat and Bowen basins have already seen over 16,000 coal seam gas wells drilled.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The project is described as the 36th fossil fuel project approved by the Albanese government since taking office.
- Amanda McKenzie (Climate Council CEO) compared approval to 'lighting another cigarette while trying to quit smoking'.
- The project’s emissions exceed Australia’s annual transport emissions (111m tonnes vs. ~50m tonnes estimated for transport).
- Lock the Gate’s Ellen Roberts stated the project is about 'boosting and prolonging the profits of multinational gas exporters'.
- APLNG has paid $5.2 billion in taxes, royalties, and levies since 2016.
- Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King said the project would 'strengthen gas supply and create jobs'.
- The project covers an area roughly bounded by Rolleston, Wandoan, Tara, and Injune in Queensland.
- The Surat and Bowen basins hold Australia’s largest-known proven natural gas reserves.
- APLNG has invested over $60 billion in the region since 2011 and signed 1,462 conduct and compensation agreements with landholders.
- Climate Council senior advisor Ben McLeod called the 2081 approval 'shocking' given Australia’s net-zero targets.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the project’s total lifetime emissions are ~120 million tonnes, while ABC does not specify a total but focuses on construction/operation (9m) and burning (111m).
- The Guardian highlights the project as the 36th fossil fuel approval under Albanese, while ABC does not mention this specific count.
- The Guardian emphasizes the project’s emissions exceed Australia’s annual transport emissions, but ABC does not directly compare to transport.
- The Guardian quotes Lock the Gate’s Ellen Roberts calling the project about 'multinational gas exporters’ profits,' while ABC does not include this framing.
- ABC mentions the project will support 'reliable supply to Australia’s east coast domestic gas market,' but the Guardian does not emphasize this domestic supply benefit.
Source Articles
More than 1,600 new gas wells approved for rural Queensland until 2081
A major multinational gas venture has just secured federal approval to ramp up extraction in rural Queensland — locking in operations for the next 55 years....
‘Like lighting a cigarette while trying to quit’: Australia approves new coal seam gas expansion
The expansion in Queensland, which has been approved until 2081, will contribute about 120m tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A ...