Victoria's first gas-import terminal a step closer
Victoria's first gas-import terminal in Corio Bay has won conditional approval from the Allan government as it seeks to prevent damaging winter shortages in the state.
Speaking at the Victorian Chamber of Commerce's Autumn Ball on Thursday night, Premier Jacinta Allan said her government would pave the way for Viva Energy's proposed liquified natural gas import terminal to get off the ground.
It was the latest in a series of energy-related announcements made this week.
Viva Energy, which supplies petrol and diesel and owns the Shell service station business, has been waiting for a decision from the government, due this month.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny released the Environmental Effects Statement for the project, finding it was possible to go ahead with some protections in place.
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Viva can now move forward with finance plans for the project and any required regulatory approvals.
If it goes ahead, the project would be able to receive 160 petajoules of gas a year, about 80 per cent of the state's consumption in 2024.
Viva Energy – owner of the Geelong oil refinery – has proposed extending a pier where it would park a vessel capable of receiving shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from other parts of Australia or overseas and turn it back into vapour.
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