The Independent Planning Commission (IPC) of New South Wales (NSW) (Australia) has approved the Narrabri Gas project, proposed by Santos. The NSW Minister for Planning referred the project to the IPC for approval in March 2020. Santos has accepted the conditions proposed by the IPC and will now work with the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment as it considers its recommendation to the Minister on EPBC Act approval.
The US$2bn Narrabri Gas Project comprises the development of a coal seam gas field over two decade and supporting infrastructure. According to the NSW's IPC, the project's production could cover half of the state's gas demand for about 20 years and help meet the forecast gas shortfall from 2024, while supporting the transition away from coal. In February 2020, the NSW government committed to supply an additional 70 PJ/year of gas to the east coast market, from Santos' proposed Narrabri coal seam gas field, or from one or two LNG import terminal projects.