Session 3. Oral Presentation for: Reconciling gas production for energy security with CCS-enabled decarbonisation under Australia’s Future Gas Strategy

Presented on 19 May 2026: Session 3 Australia’s Future Gas Strategy establishes a dual mandate for gas producers: to ensure a reliable supply that prevents projected domestic shortfalls while fulfilling export commitments, all within the framework of a net-zero trajectory. This strategy not only encourages new gas exploration and production but also stresses the importance of continued investment for a smooth economic transition. However, aligning with greenhouse gas emissions targets introduces new challenges for energy investors, as they must internalise the costs of emissions reduction. One viable option is the implementation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) within gas development plans. CCS is recognised as a crucial enabler for the long-term economic viability of the gas industry and for the large-scale decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors. This paper will analyse a few major Australian gas development projects identified for potential CCS project integration. We will explore their potential development and site integration plans and relative cost of avoiding emissions considering additional emissions from carbon capture, utilisation, and storage operations. Additionally, we will compare their relative levelised cost of abatement including development and operating expenditure against their respective CO2 storage/utilisation capacities. Finally, we will review project costs with and without CCS integration and how this impacts valuation of these projects. To access the Oral Presentation click ‘Supplementary data’ below. To read the full paper click here