abce certificate
Monday, 08 September, 2008, 17:50 GMT | more prices >>

Gas ‘part of Aussie Kyoto solution’



By Upstream staff 

Producers' group the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) said the country’s vast natural gas reserves have a part to play in helping Canberra meet its targets under the newly-ratified Kyoto Protocol.

The agreement comes into effect in Australia today after the country's new government, led by Kevin Rudd, backed the ratification of the treaty. Former prime minister John Howard had refused to sign up to the deal.

APPEA said the country’s natural gas reserves could be used to cut greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining economic growth.

Natural gas is seen as a cleaner fuel than oil or coal, producing less carbon emissions.

“We must all think about how we can tailor Australia’s response to its strategic national strength – its natural gas reserves,” the association’s chief executive, Belinda Robinson, said.

“By playing to our strengths, we can achieve real results in offsetting emissions against a business-as-usual approach while keeping our economy strong.

Robinson said further developing Australia’s natural gas reserves could help avoid 180 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2017 – about 25% of forecast gas emissions by that date.

“To make this aspiration a reality, we need those policy and fiscal reforms that are necessary to shift our large gas projects off the drawing board and into reality. And we need to give gas a level playing field as a fuel for domestic power generation,” she said.

Energy companies including Australia's Santos and Woodside Petroleum are working to tap massive gas reserves off the country's west and north-west coasts to supply domestic demand and growing markets in Asia.

Australia also has gas deposits off its south-eastern coast and onshore in Queensland, Southern Australia and Western Australia.


Tuesday, 11 March, 2008, 04:30 GMT  | last updated: Tuesday, 11 March, 2008, 08:27 GMT

Treasure trove: Australia has large gas reserves off its north-west coast
 

e-mail this article to a colleague


to email:  from:
comments: