分析人士和大型能源用户称,拟议的联邦天然气预留计划存在漏洞,可能让Santos(桑托斯公司)逃避其义务。根据该计划,出口商每年须将最多20%的产量预留给国内市场。工会负责人Paul Farrow警告称,该法案草案可能允许以纸面供应充数,并赋予部长过大的自由裁量权。Santos(桑托斯公司)被指控大量购买东海岸的本地天然气用于出口,从而推高了当地价格。行业游说团体Australian Energy Producers(澳大利亚能源生产商协会)认为,该政策走得太远,可能会减少供应。
联邦政府已提出立法,拟设立全国天然气保留计划(National Gas Reservation Scheme),政府称这是一个里程碑式的时刻,也是澳大利亚首个全国性天然气保留计划。资源部长Madeleine King表示,目标是以公平价格确保国内和企业用气。法案包括相当于出口量20%的保留数额、经过磋商后作出的修改,以及废除澳大利亚国内天然气安全机制(Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism)。
Labor has scaled back its domestic gas reservation scheme before it begins, limiting ministerial discretion over how much gas exporters must reserve. Resources Minister Madeleine King introduced the amended legislation to parliament on Wednesday. The original plan of 20 per cent has become an obligation of up to 20 per cent, and existing contracts are exempt. Critics, including unions, conservationists and business groups, say the draft still leaves exporters loopholes to sell to overseas buyers. A report also argues Western Australia's domestic gas shortfall stems from exporters choosing higher-priced markets rather than a lack of supply.