Moratorium on CSG Exploration in Victoria to Remain

A moratorium on coal seam gas mining in Victoria, Australia will remain until a decision is made as to whether to add to regulations set out in the national framework on coal seam gas, Nicholas Kotsiras, Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, said.

The Victorian Government, along with other State and Territory Governments, endorsed the National Harmonised Framework on Natural Gas from Coal Seams last week, ABC News reported.

The national framework sets out the minimum requirements State and Territory Governments must adhere to in regulating coal seam gas mining and will promote more understanding of coal seam gas mining, ABC News quoted Kotsiras as saying.

A decision on whether or not more regulations will be added by the Victorian Government is expected in the next few months.

The national framework sets out 18 leading practises focusing on four operational areas of coal seam gas mining: well integrity, chemical use during mining, hydraulic fracturing or fracking and water management, ABC News said.

The national framework was amended following public consultations in December last year and voted on by the State and Territory Governments last Friday.