Next week's crucial decision from the NSW Independent Planning Commission on Santos' $3.6 billion Narrabri gas project was always going to be seen through a political lens. Since Prime Minister Scott Morrison's "energy week", the lens has been magnified.

The ruling due by September 30 will dictate the future of the gas industry in the state. At stake is whether a resource lying up to 1200 metres beneath the Pilliga scrub in the state's north will be freed up to supply up to half of NSW's gas needs or remain locked up and see the state potentially import gas from Asia to help meet its needs.