Economic Development

CSG is already contributing substantially to economic and regional development.

The industry is paying taxes and royalties. It is creating jobs and generating revenue for support services and local businesses. It is also investing in infrastructure and community development. These economic benefits are expected to grow strongly over the next decade.

This will benefit not only Queensland but also Australia as a whole. NSW could also benefit significantly if the development of its CSG industry is facilitated.

CSG already provides power to industries and households. CSG now comprises about 90 per cent of Queensland’s gas production and it could also become a substantial contributor to NSW energy production. CSG companies are undertaking appraisal and development work in several parts of NSW.

LNG

CSG will also underpin a valuable new export sector. Four liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects based on CSG are planned for development in Queensland. These projects will pipe gas from inland Queensland to the port city of Gladstone. Plants at Gladstone will chill CSG to -161°C, liquefying the gas so that it contracts to fill just one six-hundredth of the space occupied by its gaseous form. The LNG can then be exported to Asian markets by purpose-built tankers.

The Queensland Government expects these projects to create around 18,000 jobs, increase State Domestic Product by 1%, and generate around $1 billion a year in state revenue.

Four major Queensland CSG-LNG projects are at various stages of development. Three of these schemes - Queensland Curtis LNG, Gladstone LNG and Australia Pacific LNG - are under construction. A final investment decision has not yet been made for the Arrow LNG project, but its proponents are actively developing gas fields and pipelines and marketing gas to potential buyers.

For more information see APPEA's LNG webpage.For an overview of recent CSG industry statistics, click here.