Article by James O’Doherty, courtesy the Daily Telegraph.
Premier Chris Minns says he is “bullish” about the $3.5bn Narrabri gas project finally getting off the ground despite the plant being bogged down in legal challenges over climate change concerns.
Mr Minns told The Daily Telegraph’s Bush Summit in Orange on Thursday that he met with oil and gas company Santos “a couple of weeks ago” about the project which will supply half of NSW’s gas needs.
He said the government was supporting the plant but the ultimate decision will come
down to Santos.
The Telegraph has previously revealed that the project will not start pumping gas until after 2026, due to the latest legal delays.
The project is currently being held up through the Native Title Tribunal process.
“I’ve looked at the economic necessity of gas in state from everything from having a thriving manufacturing sector to, ironically enough, building the kind of capital infrastructure that we need for renewable energy revolution,” Mr Minns said.
“I’m bullish about it.”
The comments came after Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart emphasised the importance of gas to the nation’s manufacturing sector and energy needs in a video address to the Bush Summit.
“Those who don’t want to use gas, let them choose not to use it. But let those who want reliable energy have it,” the billionaire mining magnate said.
“We have so much natural gas in Australia, and if we are deciding not to use our vast coal deposits, let’s at least use make use of our gas resources.”
