PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland government has granted ASX-listed Comet Ridge two petroleum leases at its Mahalo gas project.
Comet Ridge on Tuesday said that the petroleum lease awards were the final regulatory approval required for the project to move towards production, following the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act approval, which was granted in May and approval by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, in June.
The Mahalo project is 40% held by Comet Ridge, with major Santos holding a 30% share and Australian Pacific Liquefied Natural Gas (APLNG) holding the remaining 30%.
APLNG is working on formalising a development and startup scope for the Mahalo asset, and is progressing engineering studies in gas and water handling facilities, as well as progressing field layout.
“The Mahalo gas project is well positioned to deliver meaningful gas production into the domestic and export market as part of an emerging greater Mahalo fairway. The streamlined approval process shows it has the support of the Queensland government, and we look forward to working with our joint venture partners in progressing Mahalo towards a final investment decision,” said Comet Ridge chairperson James McKay.
He noted that work was also continuing at the wholly owned Mahalo North project, to allow the project to be development ready and to be quickly tied into either the Mahalo project or nearby gas processing and pipeline facilities.