Oz Mahalo Project Gets State Environmental Okay

Sydney-listed Comet Ridge June 9 said that the Mahalo gas project has been granted Queensland state government environmental approval for the gas development.

This is the second of two environmental steps required for the project to move forward to production and follows the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act approval in May. The project has now met all federal and state environmental regulatory requirements, in order to proceed, Comet Ridge said.

The Mahalo project is located inside the northern part of the ATP 1191 area in Queensland’s Bowen Basin. The project is held 40% by Comet Ridge, 30% by Santos and 30% by APLNG (a joint venture comprising Origin Energy, ConocoPhillips and Sinopec).

Comet Ridge managing director, Tor McCaul said the third and last approval step, the issuing of the petroleum leases by the Queensland state government, can now proceed.

He said this Mahalo environmental work will provide a basis for the Mahalo North (ATP 2048) environmental studies work, which will be required for Comet Ridge’s 100% Mahalo North development. McCaul said the environmental field work for Mahalo North is planned to start in the coming spring/summer season.