More LNG Milestones
June 5th, 2010
Published in the Gladstone Observer
There have been a number of further significant milestones for project proponents involved in the CSG-LNG industry since our last article.
Possibly most significant is the first completion of the EIS process by an LNG proponent and the subsequent Coordinator-General’s evaluation report for an environmental impact statement.
The subject report for the Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas – GLNG Project was handed down by Coordinator-General Colin Jensen on 28 May 2010.
The full 300 page report can be accessed at http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/projects/energy/gas/gladstone-liquefied-natural-gas.html.
This is an important document as it is essentially the first conditional approval for a CSG-LNG export industry for Queensland including gas field development, pipeline corridor development and LNG processing facilities in Gladstone. The report assesses the information supplied by proponents in an EIS and SEIS and submission from public and other interested stakeholders and establishes a significant range of strict condition that are attached to any development approval and audited in the future. The Coordinator-General has set conditions and made recommendations relating to mitigating impacts of transport and logistics associated with construction and operation of the project, social impacts including housing and local content and participation, coal seam gas water management and ground water monitoring, pipeline corridor crossing of the Narrows, workforce accommodation and the environmental authority conditions on the project. The report is not a final approval in itself but is still subject to a number of interrelated relevant pieces of legislation including Federal approval and the responsible Ministers approvals as well as the development of further assessment and reporting including development applications. GLNG have invested considerable resources in developing the project momentum to achieve this significant milestone and move closer to a final investment decision.
Another significant Coordinator-Generals report was handed down on 25 May 2010 relating to the Fishermans Landing Port Expansion Project. The report assesses the EIS relating to the proposed expansion of the existing Fishermans Land port facility by reclamation of approximately a further 170 hectares. This facility would provide a disposal location for dredge material to widen and deepen channels to provide access to the expanded facility for the development of a possible further 6 wharves and associated land backed port facilities to support development of the Western Basin and the Gladstone State Development Area. Like the LNG report this imposes strict conditions on the project including mitigating water quality impacts, marine flora and fauna disruption, environmental offsets, transport and environmental management plans. The full 70 page report can be accessed at http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/projects/transport/harbours-and-ports/fishermans-landing-port-expansion.html. The cumulative impacts of these projects are also being assessed by the Coordinator-General in his evaluation of the Western Basin Dredging Project. The next of these important reports should be the report on the QGC LNG project. I encourage people to have a look at these reports as they contain considerable detail on the projects as well as the consideration and assessment of their possible impacts and conditions and recommendation to mitigate those impacts.