Metgasco shut down its operations in NSW during the first quarter of the year following last year's A$25 million (US$18.9 million) settlement with the state government which saw it hand back PEL 13, PEL 16 and PEL 426.

The settlement came after its drilling programme was suspended in 2014 by the government, a decision that was later ruled to be unlawful and the suspension was overturned.

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