Santos Limited and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) propose to develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility at Gladstone in Central Queensland, Australia to commercialise their Queensland coal seam gas (CSG) resources in the Comet Ridge and Roma region. The designated proponent for the project is Santos Ltd.

The project involves extraction of coal seam gas from fields around Roma, Emerald, Injune and Taroom, a 435 km gas transmission pipeline from the gas fields to Gladstone, an LNG facility of approximately 10 million tones per annum (Mtpa) on Curtis Island near Gladstone and associated infrastructure including marine facilities, port dredging and a potential access road and bridge at Gladstone. The LNG facility is proposed to be developed in three stages, the first of which will have a capacity of approximately 3-4 Mtpa. The LNG will be exported to overseas markets.

Environmental impact statement process

On 16 July 2007, the Coordinator-General declared the Project to be a ‘significant project’ for which an environmental impact statement (EIS) is required in accordance with Part 4 of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld).

On 31 March 2008 and 14 April 2008, the Australian Government Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts determined that the five referrals relating to the project, being CSG fields, the pipeline, LNG terminal, marine environment and bridge, were each a ‘controlled action’ pursuant to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth). The collective controlling provisions of the referrals are:

• sections 12 and 15A (world heritage properties)
• sections 15B and 15C (national heritage places)
• sections 18 and 18A (listed threatened species and communities)
• sections 20 and 20A (listed migratory species)

The EIS process is accredited under a bilateral agreement and will address matters on behalf of both the Queensland and Australian Governments. The process is being coordinated by the Department of Infrastructure and Planning on behalf of the Coordinator-General.

The Coordinator-General invited comments on the draft terms of reference (TOR) from 24 May 2008 to 20 June 2008. All submissions received during that period were considered, and where appropriate, incorporated into the TOR. The TOR were approved by the Coordinator-General on 20 August 2008.

The Coordinator-General determined that the EIS was substantially in accordance with the TOR and on 20 June 2009, released the EIS for public and advisory agency comment until 17 August 2009. A total of 37 submissions on the EIS were received by the Coordinator-General, consisting of 17 from advisory agencies, 11 from the public and 9 from local organisations.

The Coordinator-General is now considering submissions on the EIS and if further information is required, Santos Ltd will be requested to prepare a supplementary EIS.

A link to the executive summary of the EIS, prepared by the proponent, is provided below. A DVD containing the complete EIS is also available free of charge from the proponent.

Resources

• Initial advice statement ( 997 KB)
  • Initial advice statement - Figure 1.1 ( 1.5 MB)
• Terms of reference ( 330 KB)
• Environmental impact statement - Executive summary ( 1.2 MB)
• An executive summary of the EIS or a DVD containing the complete EIS is available free of charge from Santos Ltd at Level 14, 60 Edward Street, Brisbane. Please contact the GLNG freecall number on 1800 761 113 for further information.

Further information

Further information on the project may be obtained via the Santos website or free call 1800 761 113.

For further information regarding the EIS process for the project, contact the Infrastructure and Economic Development Group and address your enquiry to the Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas project.