Australia Pacific Seeks Environmental Approval for LNG Project

Australia Pacific LNG has sought environmental clearance from the Queensland Government for its A$35bn ($31.3bn) LNG export project with US ConocoPhillips.

The company has submitted a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with the government, which will now assess the project for compliance with the Terms of Reference set by the Coordinator-General prior to its public consultation release.

The EIS addresses the project’s maximum development case and includes an assessment of the cumulative impacts of the proposed CSG to LNG industry on the communities within the project area.

The EIS covers the gas fields in southern central Queensland, the 450km gas transmission pipeline and a four-production-train LNG plant near Laird Point on Curtis Island in Gladstone.

Project director Todd Creeger said the lodging of the draft EIS is another milestone in the company’s progress towards a final investment decision.

Australia Pacific LNG is expected to take a final decision on the investment by December 2010, with first gas export expected to start in late 2014.