Media Release: Attacks on seismic surveys threaten Australia’s future energy supply

Australia’s energy security will be put at risk if decision-makers ignore the science of seismic surveys – a safe and proven technology that is critical for finding and developing new gas supply.

“Seismic surveying is a strictly regulated technology that has unlocked Australia’s vast offshore gas resources and delivered reliable energy for millions of Australian homes and businesses for decades,” Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said.

“The facts are that Australia’s future energy security will depend on continued exploration for new gas supply to 2050 and beyond.

“The legislation introduced in the Parliament today is aimed at stopping new gas projects, with no regard for the devastating impact on Australia’s economy and energy security.

“At a time when Australia is facing looming gas shortfalls we need energy policies backed by science and robust regulations, not ideology.”

The Australian Government’s Future Gas Strategy confirmed that natural gas will remain an integral part of Australia’s energy mix to 2050 and beyond, and “without future investment, there are real risks gas will become unaffordable and unavailable to Australian households and industry well before 2050”.

“A recent independent report by EnergyQuest found that a halt to new gas investment would trigger ‘major economic disruption’ on both coasts of Australia, leading to a high risk of blackouts, manufacturers closing and inevitably higher energy prices,” Ms McCulloch said.

Modern seismic technology is used around the world to obtain high-quality data with minimal disruption to marine ecosystems.

The national independent regulator, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority has also found that “seismic surveys can be managed and regulated to ensure that they do not have serious, unacceptable impacts on the marine environment or marine fauna”.

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