Australia approves massive coal seam gas expansion in Queensland until 2081
Consensus Summary
The federal government approved a massive expansion of coal seam gas extraction in Queensland’s Surat and Bowen basins, allowing up to 1,695 new wells, 1,545 km of pipelines, and three processing plants to operate until 2081. The Australia Pacific LNG project, a joint venture between ConocoPhillips, Origin Energy, and Sinopec, aims to supply both domestic and export markets, with construction set to begin in 2024. The approval includes strict environmental conditions, including annual emissions reductions and net-zero targets by 2050, but critics argue it undermines Australia’s climate commitments. Supporters highlight job creation and energy security, while environmental groups warn of increased pollution and ecological harm, citing the region’s existing 16,000+ gas wells and the project’s long-term emissions impact. The approval reflects ongoing tensions between economic growth, energy security, and climate action in Australia.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The federal government approved up to 1,695 new gas wells in Queensland’s Surat and Bowen basins until 2081
- The project involves 1,545 kilometers of gas and water pipelines and three processing facilities
- The Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) project is a joint venture between ConocoPhillips, Origin Energy, and Sinopec
- The project is expected to produce about 2,033 petajoules of gas and operate until at least 2061
- The approval includes 126 environmental conditions, including annual emissions reductions and net-zero targets by 2050 under the Safeguard Mechanism
- The project covers an area roughly bounded by Rolleston (north), Wandoan (east), Tara (south), and Injune (west)
- APLNG has invested over $60 billion in the region since 2011 and paid $5.2 billion in taxes, royalties, and levies since 2016
- Construction of the project is scheduled to begin in 2024
- 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
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The project is described as contributing about 120 million tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime
- Amanda McKenzie (Climate Council CEO) called the approval ‘like lighting another cigarette while trying to quit’
- The project is the 36th fossil fuel project approved by the Albanese government
- Lock the Gate’s Ellen Roberts stated Queensland’s landscape has already been scarred by over 16,000 coal seam gas wells
- The project is named the Gas Supply Security Project and is criticized for prioritizing export profits over domestic energy security
- Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King said the project would strengthen gas supply and create jobs
- The approval includes over 120 conditions covering threatened species, vegetation clearing, and independent environmental audits
- Ben McLeod (Climate Council senior advisor) called the 2081 approval ‘shocking’ given Australia’s net-zero targets
- ABC notes the project covers one of Australia’s most intensive gas production regions
- APLNG signed 1,462 conduct and compensation agreements with landholders
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the project’s lifetime emissions are about 120 million tonnes, while ABC does not specify a total but cites 9 million tonnes during construction/operation and 111 million tonnes from burning gas (no direct lifetime total)
- The Guardian emphasizes the project is primarily for export profits, while ABC focuses on domestic gas supply and job creation without dismissing export contracts
- The Guardian highlights the project as the 36th fossil fuel approval under Albanese, but ABC does not mention this specific count
- The Guardian quotes Lock the Gate’s claim of over 16,000 existing coal seam gas wells in Queensland, while ABC does not provide this exact number
- The Guardian’s Amanda McKenzie frames the approval as contradictory to climate commitments, while ABC’s Ben McLeod focuses on the 2081 timeline as ‘shocking’ without explicitly linking it to broader policy contradictions
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