NT economic reconstruction team showing ideological cracks on gas industry
IDEOLOGICAL cracks are already showing within the team tasked with designing NT’s post-pandemic economic bounce back
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IDEOLOGICAL cracks are already showing within the team tasked with designing NT’s post-pandemic economic bounce back.
A climate-change think tank led by one of the brains of the Territory’s Economic Reconstruction Commission on Friday launched a national plan arguing for a rapid expansion of renewable energy and a shift away from gas, just as the LNG industry heralded a call by energy giant Santos for Darwin to become a national gas hub.
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The stark opposing views have raised questions about how the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission, chaired by gas supporters Andrew Liveris and Paul Henderson, will be able to agree on a way forward for the NT’s economy.
Beyond Zero Emissions, led by interim chief executive and TERC commissioner Eytan Lenko, has released a briefing paper presenting an alternative view to the Federal and NT Government’s gas-fired recovery plan, arguing a rapid shift to clean energy would be a major job-creating exercise.
The work by BZE is backed by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
NT’s Treasurer and Chief Minister have argued the beauty of the TERC panel is their shared vision of “zero emissions economies” and that the jurisdiction’s potential for solar and gas can exist in harmony.
“We’ve got some huge advantages over the rest of the nation where we’ve got a fantastic potential for solar power (and) we’ve got gas resources,” Treasurer Nicole Manison said.
“Gas resources (is) not just about energy production, it’s about what you can (manufacture) with gas.”
Ms Manison said she was “thrilled” Santos had reached a $2.2 billion agreement to purchase a dominant stake in ConocoPhillips’ Darwin LNG plant and northern assets.
The deal was also celebrated by gas and oil lobby group APPEA, with NT director Keld Knudsen saying successful exploration and development in the gas-rich Beetaloo Basin would “power further growth and contribute to economic recovery”.
“Our members stand ready to invest hundreds of millions in exploring the NT’s natural gas reserves,” he said.
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