New South Wales Renews Dart's CSG Licence

New South Wales Government on Thursday awarded Dart Energy a six-year renewal of its Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 445 with new conditions.

“Dart Energy is only permitted to undertake low impact exploration activities including data review, mapping and technical evaluation. Any other activities require further approvals and are subject to the Government’s strict new conditions and regulations,” Minister for Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts said.

Roberts said Dart Energy has also relinquished more than a quarter of the PEL title area it previously held.

“This means areas around Lismore, Ballina, Lennox Head, Byron Bay, Bangalow and Mullumbimby are now released from Dart Energy’s title area,” Roberts said.

As outlined in the NSW Gas Plan, a freeze on new PEL applications remains in place until the new Strategic Release Framework is introduced next year, the minister stated.