Wednesday, November 30

Australia Inquiry Urges New Curbs on Coal-Seam Gas

CANBERRA Nov 30 (Reuters) - A parliamentary inquiry into Australia's booming coal-seam gas industry has called for a ban on gas production on prime agricultural land and urged the government to give more power to farmers to stop gas workers from entering their property.
It also wants gas firms to finance a fund to pay for long-term problems caused by sealed gas wells, and ensure tougher rules to protect water supplies, and ban new projects until scientific studies are completed on the impact on farming.
The proposals have broad support across all political parties, adding pressure on the national government to intervene in growing disputes between farmers and gas explorers in the states of Queensland and New South Wales.


Reuters Africa

No comments:

Post a Comment