Petroleum Company has Exploration Licences Cancelled

The NSW Government has announced the cancellation of three coal seam gas exploration licences held by Leichhardt Resources Pty Ltd due to the company’s failure to comply with licence conditions. The cancellations are PELs 468 near Rylstone, 469 near Nowra and 470 near Moree. This announcement comes after years of hard-fought community campaigning.

Minister Roberts said the licences were cancelled under the Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 on the basis that Leichhardt Resources had contravened or failed to fulfil specified conditions of the licences.  More specifically the Minister cited two areas of concern that were raised with the coal seam gas company as justification for the cancellation of the licences:  The allegation of not complying with the requirement for community engagement was raised in relation to all three licences; and the allegation of not complying with its work program obligations was also raised in relation to PEL 470.