Australia says it’s doing what it can to ensure supplies of liquefied natural gas to Asian customers will remain reliable, amid concerns producers could be forced to redirect to relieve domestic shortfalls.
Heightened demand for gas in Australia and projections of a shortage next year have prompted calls for the government to "pull the trigger” on a policy to force gas operators in the eastern states to offer uncontracted cargoes to the domestic market before exporting spot cargoes.
"I understand the concerns of the Japanese and Koreans as well,” Australian Minister for Resources Madeleine King said in an interview in Canberra on Wednesday. "The things we have control over, we will be working cooperatively with them,” she said, while stopping short of guaranteeing there would be no redirecting of supply.