Australia Approves Major Coal Seam Gas Expansion Amid Climate Concerns

The Australian federal government has approved a significant expansion of coal seam gas (CSG) operations in Queensland, allowing Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) to continue developing gas infrastructure in the Surat and Bowen basins until 2081. The decision, announced on March 20, 2026, has sparked criticism from environmental groups who argue it undermines the nation’s climate commitments.

Project Details and Scope

The approval enables APLNG to build, operate, and eventually decommission new gas infrastructure. The Gas Supply Security Project could involve the construction of up to 1,695 new gas wells, 1,545 kilometers of gas and water pipelines, and three processing facilities. The project is expected to produce approximately 2,033 petajoules of gas and operate until 2061, with an extended approval timeframe to ensure environmental conditions are met [Industry Queensland].

Environmental Impact and Emissions

The project is projected to contribute around 120 million tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime. The public environment report estimates 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions during construction and operation, and an additional 111 million tonnes from the combustion of the gas – exceeding Australia’s annual transport emissions [The Guardian].

Government and Industry Response

A government spokesperson stated the project was approved after “consideration of rigorous scientific advice” and will be subject to 126 environmental conditions. The project will be required to reduce emissions annually and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, aligning with the Albanese Government’s strengthened Safeguard Mechanism [The Guardian].

APLNG welcomed the approval, stating it will allow them to continue supplying gas to both domestic and export markets [The Guardian].

Criticism from Environmental Groups

Environmental organizations have strongly criticized the approval. Amanda McKenzie, CEO of the Climate Council, described the decision as “like lighting another cigarette while you’re trying to quit smoking,” arguing that approving new fossil fuel projects is incompatible with climate goals [The Guardian]. Lock the Gate’s national coordinator, Ellen Roberts, pointed out that Queensland already has over 16,000 coal seam gas wells and questioned whether the project is truly about energy security or simply boosting profits for gas exporters [The Guardian].

About Australia Pacific LNG

Australia Pacific LNG is a joint venture of ConocoPhillips, Origin Energy, and Sinopec. Origin Energy is the upstream operator responsible for developing the CSG fields in the Surat and Bowen basins and the main transmission pipeline to the LNG facility on Curtis Island near Gladstone [Australia Pacific LNG] and [Origin Energy].