PNG, NT govts call for onshore natural gas supply. 19/06/2006. ABC News Online


The Papua New Guinea and Northern Territory governments have used a petroleum industry conference in Darwin to call for an onshore natural gas supply.
They both want a small amount of natural gas held back from the lucrative LNG export market.
Papua New Guinea's Energy Minister Sir Moi Avei told the conference he is confident a gas pipeline to Queensland will be completed in 2009 and act as the launching pad for his country's natural gas industry.
But he says on their own, LNG exports will not translate to local jobs.
"For us in Papua New Guinea, the downstream processing is the centrepiece."
The Northern Territory's Chief Minister Clare Martin says the offshore gas industry should not dismiss Western Australia's suggestion that some natural gas be reserved for domestic use as government interference in their market.
"It already contains interventions, some of which benefit the Australian people and some of which benefit the industry," she said.
Ms Martin says the small amount needed to power local manufacturing would not weaken exports and once nuclear power disappears off the front pages, attention will return to Australia's abundant natural gas reserves in the Timor Sea.
"Gas is the next realistic source of energy for Australia," she said.
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