Santos NSW

Monthly Activities Update

May 2025

Welcome to the May issue of our Monthly Activities Update for NSW.

Santos acknowledges the devastating floods impacting the Hunter region and the hardship this is causing local communities and businesses. The scale of the damage is heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with all those who have been affected. We are committed to supporting local recovery efforts and reaffirm our intention to invest some of the $500 000 previously pledged to assist flood impacted communities in the Hunter region. We understand that the road to recovery will be long and challenging but believe in the resilience of these communities to rebuild and emerge stronger than before.

It has been a busy month as we continue to work closely with our community partners, share information about the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) at local events and facilitate site tours of our Narrabri operations. All of these activities aim to give interested stakeholders clear insight into our operations and build a greater understanding of our role in delivering energy security for the region.

Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) Update

Natural gas is an essential part of NSW’s energy mix, and its ongoing production is required to ensure safe, reliable and affordable energy well into the future. Santos has committed 100 per cent of gas from the NGP to the domestic market. Once completed, the project is expected to supply up to half of the state’s natural gas needs, delivering energy security for the region and putting downward pressure on gas and electricity prices for households, manufacturers and businesses.

The NGP involves the development and production of natural gas near Narrabri and around the Pilliga.

If you would like more information about this project, please contact our team via email at Energy.NSW@santos.com or give us a call on (02) 6790 9235. You can also visit the NGP website.

Native Title Determination

Santos welcomes the National Native Title Tribunal’s ‘future act’ determination that clears the way for Petroleum Production Leases (PPLs) to be granted for the NGP. It represents an important step forward for the project.

The Tribunal determined the NGP is in the public interest, highlighting the role it could play in providing vital new gas supply to the east coast domestic gas market.

“When considering public interest, the panel placed significant weight on the project providing energy reliability if all the gas produced is made available to the domestic market as intended… if the leases are not granted, there will likely be a gap in the available supply of reliable, secure energy on Australia’s east coast, which would have significant short-to-medium-term detrimental impacts upon the wider community, including Gomeroi people.”

More than 1 million homes and 33,000 businesses in NSW rely on natural gas, and despite having significant undeveloped gas resources underfoot, NSW currently imports 100 per cent of its supply from interstate. With gas shortfalls predicted, developing the NGP will allow NSW to develop its own resources for the state, driving down the cost of energy.

Santos has engaged constructively with the Gomeroi people since 2012 with formal negotiations commencing a decade ago in 2015. We will continue to work closely with the Gomeroi people to ensure their heritage is protected and they benefit from the project development in a range of ways, including through training and employment opportunities, and involvement in all aspects of their cultural heritage protection and management. 

Narrabri gas appraisal wells are already supplying the Wilga Park Power Station in northwest NSW, generating enough electricity to power about 32,000 households in the region.

Drilling activities

There are no drilling activities planned at this time.

Pilot wells

Bibblewindi East, Bibblewindi West and Dewhurst South, Tintsfield and Kahlua wells are online.

Leewood

Santos does not need to irrigate at this time and water is stored in the holding ponds at Leewood.

Wilga Park Power Station

Essential Energy undertook routine maintenance of their equipment on 28 May, shutting down Wilga Park Power Station for one day shift. It is now back online.

Other activities

Groundwater monitoring activities for Environmental Protection Licence compliance are ongoing.

PEL 1

Kahlua pilot wells are online. To view the approval, please click here.

Hunter Gas Pipeline and Narrabri Lateral Pipeline Activities

Santos is proposing to deliver natural gas from Narrabri to the east coast domestic market via two new underground pipelines – the Hunter Gas Pipeline (HGP) and the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline (NLP). Together, they will transport the gas approximately 400km from Narrabri to Hexham where it will connect into the NSW energy grid. To finalise the pipeline’s exact location, we are seeking feedback from landholders along the proposed route to consider their preferences, as well as any technical, environmental, and cultural heritage factors.

Survey activities are ongoing on both public and private land to confirm the alignment. Our land access team continues to liaise with landholders to discuss the alignment and negotiate survey and deed of option agreements. We encourage landholders to engage with our team to address any feedback, questions or concerns. Landholders can contact us at any time on 1300 427 546 or via email at info@huntergaspipeline.com.au.

Project Update - revised staging

On 4 October 2023, the Planning Secretary approved the Hunter Gas Pipeline (HGP) project to undertake construction in three stages:

Stage 1: Construction of temporary laydown yards at various locations along the proposed HGP alignment.
Stage 2: Pipeline construction from Narrabri to Newcastle.
Stage 3: Pipeline construction from Wallumbilla to Narrabri.

As planning progressed for Stage 2, several low-impact works were identified as essential to inform the design development. To facilitate this, Santos requested a revision to Stage 1, splitting it into two sub-stages:

Stage 1a: Construction of temporary laydown yards at strategic locations.
Stage 1b: Low-impact works to define the final 30m Construction Right of Way and inform design development for Stages 2 and 3, including Construction Environmental Management Plans.

These low-impact activities – such as geotechnical investigations, soil sampling, and relocation of utilities and fencing, will generally be completed within one day, and no more than three days in any one location.

On 5 May 2025, the Planning Secretary approved the revised staging request, confirming it aligns with existing project approval conditions.

For more information, you can view the Department’s official approval [here]

Narrabri Lateral Pipeline

Santos is progressing plans for the lateral pipeline which will provide the ‘missing link’ between the NGP and HGP, connecting the natural gas from Narrabri to the existing transmission network near Newcastle.

We are currently finalising the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the NLP project.

For more information on the HGP or the NLP, please visit the HGP website.

Community Consultation

Effective community consultation is a vital part of our commitment to transparency and collaboration with the communities where we live and work. We’ve held nine community consultation sessions in regional NSW this year, offering landholders, stakeholders and community members the opportunity to drop by and learn about the HGP, NLP, or any other Santos activities. The feedback we receive during these sessions plays a vital role in shaping our decisions and outcomes. You don’t need to wait for the next round of community consultation sessions to have your say. You can reach out to us any time by phone on (02) 6790 9235 or email at Energy.NSW@santos.com.

Community Consultative Committee and Advisory Groups

A condition of the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) consent for the NGP is the establishment and operation of a Community Consultative Committee (CCC) and Advisory Groups in accordance with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment Community Consultative Committee Guideline: State Significant Projects.

Mr. Garry West was appointed to the position of Independent Chair of the CCC and Advisory Groups.

The purpose of a CCC is to provide a forum for discussion between a proponent and representatives of the community, stakeholder groups and local councils on issues directly relating to a specific state significant project.

The next NGP CCC meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 June 2025.

Previous meeting minutes are available here.

The Advisory Groups include:  

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Group 
Biodiversity Advisory Group 
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Advisory Group 
Water Technical Advisory Group

Minutes from previous advisory group meetings are available here.

Community Partnerships

All smiles at the Narrabri Show

Image: Santos staff were all smiles at the Narrabri Show

Santos has been a long-term supporter of the Narrabri Show and has sponsored it for more than a decade. Each year, our local team looks forward to attending, connecting with the community, and sharing updates about our operations in NSW, and the broader coal seam gas industry.

This year, our Santos quiz offered interested community members a chance to win a Weber Baby Q!

The show wrapped up with a bang on Saturday evening with a spectacular fireworks display proudly sponsored by Santos. We’re passionate about giving back to the communities in which we operate and supporting local events like the Narrabri Show gives us the opportunity to have a bit of fun along the way!

Clontarf Academy Rugby League Carnival - a vehicle for positive change

Image: Clontarf academies gather in Narrabri for the Junior North West Rugby League Carnival

Seven Clontarf academies met in Narrabri this month for the 2025 Junior North West Rugby League Carnival. The Narrabri Academy hosted the event, welcoming more than 125 participants across three days, with students travelling from Tamworth, Gunnedah, Moree, Inverell and Quirindi to participate.

As proud national partners of the Clontarf Foundation, we are committed to supporting the incredible work of the Narrabri Clontarf Academy. Our team was delighted to support the event with activities on and off the field.

Local sport plays a vital role in the social fabric of regional towns, bringing people together and building strong community spirit.

Empowering regional athletes: one year of partnership with Regional Academies of Sport

As we approach one-year of partnership with Regional Academies of Sport Ltd (RAS), Santos is proud to reflect on a powerful collaboration that is already making a difference in the lives of young athletes and their communities across NSW. The role of RAS is to prepare talented young male and female athletes for the rigours of the elite levels of their chosen sport. RAS supports them by providing access to developmental opportunities and support services across nine regional academies. Santos’ partnership with RAS was born from a shared commitment to support regional youth in the Hunter Valley region, helping to remove barriers and invest in the next generation of leaders, on and off the field.

A cornerstone of our partnership is the Indigenous Talent Identification Days held across the Hunter Region. These events aim to identify, inspire and support Indigenous youth with athletic potential, providing pathways for further development.

A Game-Changing First Year

Through the Santos Scholarship Program, we provided direct support to 27 talented regional athletes across two streams:

17 Athlete Excellence Scholarships
10 Regional Athlete Assistance Scholarships

These scholarships have opened doors to elite training, high-performance coaching, and critical development opportunities - especially for those facing financial hardship. Together with RAS, we are building pathways that extend well beyond sport - fostering pride, resilience, and community spirit.

Indigenous students from the Illawarra tour the Narrabri Gas Project

Image: Indigenous students from the Illawarra region visit Wilga Park power station

This month, we were delighted to host more than 30 Indigenous students and teachers from the Illawarra region for a tour of our Narrabri operations. The visit, part of a week-long educational and cultural exchange program, offered a hands-on opportunity to learn about natural gas.

The students learned about how natural gas is extracted out of the ground and its journey from the well to the power station. The students made the most of the opportunity to ask questions to deepen their understanding and knowledge of the sector as well get a glimpse into the future of the energy industry, including local career pathways.