NSW Opens First New Gas Exploration Areas in a Decade

New South Wales has launched its first new frontier gas exploration areas in a decade, reducing application fees from A$50,000 to only A$1 within the hope of resuscitating domestic exploration activity. It comes after Queensland and Victoria recently announced matching moves, as AEMO warned of east coast gas supply shortfalls by the end of the decade. NSW Farmers said the fee cut may lure low-resourced operators onto to agricultural land. Separately, BlueScope chief Tania Archibald called for more gas supply and price relief to save competitive manufacturing. Middle East tensions have focused Australia’s domestic energy security efforts