PERTH, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Opposition to Australia’s coal
seam gas industry, which is due to sink around $70 billion into
projects in the eastern state of Queensland over the next few
years, appears to be growing with calls for new legislation to
regulate the industry.

A recent poll released by Australia’s Greens party, which is
strongly opposed to the industry, showed that 70 percent of
respondents want coal seam gas mining banned in urban areas,
while 68 percent want a moratorium on coal seam gas in Australia
until the effects on the environment are more fully known.

PERTH, Aug 24 (Reuters) – Australia’s thermal coal prices, a
benchmark for Asia, were flat at just over $120 per tonne in the
week ending Tuesday, as weak demand kept trading thin.

Thermal coal on the globalCOAL Newcastle index for the week
to date was $121.19 per tonne on Tuesday, steady against $121.02
per tonne a week earlier.

PERTH/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – A tax rebate on natural gas imports may accelerate China’s purchases of liquefied natural gas, but only marginally given high prices for spot supplies and the nation’s policy of using long-term contracts.

Spot LNG prices in the Pacific have risen over 50 percent since March to more than $15 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), well in excess of the $8.28/mmBtu average price China paid for LNG imports in July.

PERTH/LONDON, Aug 19 (Reuters) – Asian liquefied natural gas
(LNG) spot prices for September rose above $15 per million
British thermal units (mmBtu) during the week, with strong Asian
demand keeping prices high.

“Asian markets were holding just north of the $15 level for
cargoes as the demand for LNG continues to ramp up,” ICAP
analysts said in a note.

PERTH, Aug 18 (Reuters) – Australia’s thermal coal prices
inched up slightly in the week to Wednesday, with little demand
for spot cargoes as the nation’s primary customers, Japanese
buyers, continued to show less interest in spot cargoes.

Thermal coal on the globalCOAL Newcastle index, a benchmark
for Asia, closed at $121.26 per tonne on Wednesday, up slightly
from $119.66 a week earlier.

PERTH, Aug 9 (Reuters) – Australia’s thermal coal prices
remained flat around the $120 per tonne level in the week to
Monday as demand in the region failed to strengthen.

Thermal coal on the globalCOAL Newcastle index, a benchmark
for Asia, for the week to date was $120.18 per tonne on Monday,
down from $120.50 a week earlier.

By Rebekah Kebede and Oleg Vukmanovic

PERTH, Aug 5(Reuters) – Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG)
spot prices for September remained just under $15 per million
British thermal units (mmBtu) during the week, with most buying
for the month done, and buyers looking to fill cargoes for
October and beyond.

“The demand has been filled… September buying seems to be
done now,” one market source said.

PERTH, July 28 (Reuters) – Origin Energy and
ConocoPhillips approved the $14 billion first phase of their
Australia Pacific LNG export project on Thursday, joining a
crowded field of LNG developers struggling to keep costs for
labour and materials in check.

The joint venture is focusing on the first train, which is
expected to start in 2015, as Australia Pacific LNG secures
customers for the second LNG train, which will come online in
2016, the company said.

PERTH, July 26 (Reuters) – Australia’s thermal coal prices,
a benchmark for Asia, were steady in the past week as demand
from Japan remained flat and Chinese demand waned.

Thermal coal on the globalCOAL Newcastle index for the week
to date was $120.63 per tonne on Thursday, essentially unchanged
from $120.75 per tonne a week earlier.

PERTH (Reuters) – Australia’s fledgling shale gas sector is picking up steam, but significant production is still at least a decade away, even if the industry clears hurdles such as high costs, a growing shortage of labor and environmental concerns.

Global shale gas exploration and production has taken off in recent years, particularly in the United States, where rising production has cut the need for the world’s largest economy to import gas, instead turning the country into a gas exporter.