Problems again stall production from Santos' $6.8b Barossa LNG
Santos is battling blocked heat exchangers, failed subsea valves, and faulty safety doors 285km north of Darwin so it can reap the reward of high gas prices in Asia.
Western Australian governments have required all gas export projects to reserve some gas for the local market. Since 2006, the aim has been to keep gas equivalent to 15 per cent of export volumes for local use.
With WA's days of cheap and abundant gas coming to a close, the chances of onshore gas being exported are shrinking fast.
Woodside's Pluto project is delivering a tiny sliver of gas to WA compared to other exporters, but the Domgas Alliance wants to change that.
Australia's most gas-dependent state has flipped from promising cheap abundance to facing expensive shortages in just six years: investors beware.
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