Government finally recognises impending gas shortage but where has the action been?

The Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve has welcomed the Premier’s epiphany that Western Australia is potentially going to run short of gas for use in our own state but has questioned why it has taken so long to recognise the problem.

Premier Cook is quoted in the media today as saying “The state has a ‘‘Browse-sized hole’’ in its future energy needs, and no ramp-up of renewables can replace the gas needed to meet demand from households and heavy industry.”

“It is about time the Government woke up to this issue and realised that renewables cannot fill the gap that gas will need to fill in the energy transition” Dr Thomas said.

“Impending shortages of gas to domestic users in WA have been known about for years, so there has been plenty of time for the Government to act on securing gas supply.”

Dr Thomas said that the impending shortfall of gas in the domestic market was not a new revelation, pointing to his response to the 2023 Gas Statement of Opportunity released by AEMO in December 2023. (attached)

“There has also been plenty of time over the last three years to work on securing a major project like Browse” Dr Thomas said.

“This is only one of a range of issues that should have been considered and developed to ensure domestic gas security for our state, and the question is what has the Government been doing over the last few years to progress them.

“Fracking unconventional or tight gas supply is only one of the possible actions the Government needs to enhance gas supply.

“The first and most pressing issue is the capacity of the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline, because at the moment peak demand exceeds peak capacity to deliver.

“Additional supply cannot be addressed with additional pipeline capacity and additional storage.

“Fracking Kimberley gas will be of little value if you can’t get more of it to Perth where it is needed” Dr Thomas said.