The Queensland Gas Company (QGC) will soon begin drilling up to 161 new wells, benefiting both gas supply and regional jobs.
APPEA Queensland Director, Rhys Turner, said the start of “Project Ruby” was an important milestone for QGC and the Queensland gas industry.
“The only way to meet growing demand for gas for our export and domestic markets is to increase supply,” Mr Turner said.
“The Queensland gas industry is committed to supplying gas into the east coast market. This new project will help the industry to deliver on its commitment.
“However, the sad reality is that while Queensland is playing its part in solving the supply problem, other states are still dragging the chain.
“We have the absurd situation where the Victorian Government, supported by the Victorian Opposition, has effectively banned all forms of gas extraction in their own state.”
Mr Turner said that despite media reports that the Queensland LNG projects were sucking up all Australian gas for export, the truth is that Queensland is contributing gas to the domestic market.
For example, Shell has stated that its QGC business will sell over 75 petajoules net of domestic gas purchases, into the domestic market this year, which represents over more than of east coast demand and 40 per cent of Queensland’s demand.
The project will also underpin 350 new and existing jobs in regional Queensland.
“The gas industry is not only delivering gas to where it is needed, it is also supporting regional jobs,” Mr Turner said.
Minister for Natural Resources, Dr Anthony Lynham, said ongoing investment in Queensland’s $70 billion CSG-LNG industry shows the policy settings are right.
“This is good news for gas supplies and jobs in Queensland,” Dr Lynham said.
Shell’s Executive Vice President for Australia and New Zealand, Andrew Smith, said, “This is the next significant milestone in the QGC project and a further vote of confidence in Queensland’s onshore gas industry. We are proud to be investing in regional Queensland, creating jobs and securing gas supply for domestic and export customers into the future.”
Queensland Premier of the Palaszczuk Government, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said, “The Ruby Project is a new program of gas field development that supply both domestic and LNG markets.”,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Studies have shown that for every local person working directly in the CSG industry, a further three new indirect jobs are created within the Surat region.
