New offshore petroleum permits issued

Five new offshore petroleum exploration permits were today granted by the federal government.Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said permits were issued for the Tasmanian, Western Australia and Ashmore and Cartier Island areas.Nexus Energy Australia has a permit to explore the Browse Basin off WA.In the Bonaparte Basin off Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Eni Australia Ltd and Auralandia, Natural Gas Corporation and Gascorp have been granted permits for exploration."There is currently very strong interest being shown by petroleum explorers in Australian offshore areas," Mr Macfarlane said in a statement."It's obviously important for the future economic wellbeing of the nation that petroleum explorers make further petroleum discoveries so the high level of interest is a positive sign of investment interest."Bass Strait Oil Company has two permits to explore shallow water in the Bass Basin off Tasmania.