The two USD 30 billion projects to tap resources held in coal seams were approved by the Australian environment department, provided the companies adhere to 300 conditions. The environmental management conditions were put in place to ensure that no damage is done to the surrounding area in Queensland where the gas will be produced. BG Group PLC (BG.LN) and a joint venture between Santos Ltd. (STO.AU), Malaysia’s Petroliam Nasional Bhd. and France’s Total SA (TOT) represent the companies behind one of the projects that aim to liquefy gas trapped in coal seams for export. BC and Santos plan to start shipping LNG to Asia by 2014, as there is a high demand there for fuel that burns cleaner than coal. The companies are required to carry out detailed planning and monitoring of groundwater resources, and submit management plans for aquifers, groundwater and surface water for approval. The Queensland government set conditions designed to prevent salt from coal seam gas water leaching into the environment.
