Santos NSW

Monthly Activities Update

August 2025

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

Santos in the community

Image: The Festival of Rugby is coming to Narrabri

The Countdown Begins: Santos Festival of Rugby 2025

The 2025 Santos Festival of Rugby is just around the corner, with final preparations underway in Narrabri for a fabulous weekend of fun, entertainment and sporting competition starting 19 September.

Our event program will kick-off with a family-friendly street party on Maitland Street on Friday night, bringing the community together for a high-energy evening packed with great food, live music, kids' games and interaction with the players.

As a new addition to our program this year, the street party promises to set a positive vibe for an unforgettable weekend of rugby action!

The main event starts at Dangar Park on Saturday, with a packed two-day rugby program. The centrepiece of the festival will be a game between the Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs Super Rugby teams.

With junior coaching clinics for the kids, a family fun zone and great food on offer, the Santos Festival of Rugby has something for everyone.

Tickets are on sale now, with all proceeds to help support grassroots rugby.

For further information and ticket sales visit Santos Festival of Rugby.

Santos in the news

Santos Signs Gas Supply MOU with ENGIE

A non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed by Santos and ENGIE for the supply of natural gas from the Narrabri Gas Project for the Australian east coast domestic gas market.

ENGIE is a diversified energy company which operates gas fired power stations, wind farms and large-scale batteries, providing energy services to commercial and industrial customers across Australia.

Under the proposed transaction, Santos would supply ENGIE with up to 20 PJ per year of natural gas from Narrabri for a period of at least 10 years from the commencement of operations, with 100 per cent of the supplied gas committed by ENGIE to the domestic market.

The supply of Narrabri gas is subject to Santos making a final investment decision on the Narrabri Gas Project, negotiation and execution of a binding gas supply agreement, and approvals by each party.

Further details on the agreement can be found here.

2025 Half Year Results

Santos has announced strong first-half results for 2025, with free cash flow from operations remaining strong at US$1.1 billion. With two major projects - Barossa offshore north-northwest from Darwin and Pikka in Alaska - also on track for startup, the results reflect the success of Santos’ diversified portfolio, low-cost operating model and the cash-generative capability of the base business.

Read the full ASX announcement here.

Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) Update

Natural gas is an important part of our local energy supply, generating the electricity we need to cook our food, light our homes, and power our businesses. It is also crucial feedstock in industrial processes for making products like textiles, plastics and fertilisers. It will continue to play a critical role in the state’s energy transition, generating half the emissions of coal. Renewable energy needs a reliable power supply for grid stability, and gas-fired generators can rapidly turn on to support renewables during peak demand, or when they can't generate enough electricity like when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow.

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 gas from interstate.

The NGP involves the development and production of natural gas near Narrabri and Santos has committed 100 per cent of this gas to the domestic market, with the potential to supply up to half of the state’s natural gas needs. With gas shortfalls predicted, the NGP will allow NSW to develop its own resources for the state, delivering energy security for the region and putting downward pressure on gas and electricity prices.

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.

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

Wilga Park Power Station is online. July power production was an average of 377MWh per day and minor routine maintenance activities were completed.

Other activities

Groundwater monitoring activities for Environmental Protection Licence compliance are ongoing.

PEL 1

Kahlua pilot wells are online.

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). These pipelines would run approximately 400 kilometres from Narrabri to Hexham, where they would 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.

Narrabri Lateral Pipeline (NLP)

Santos is progressing plans for the NLP, which will serve as the 'missing link' between the NGP and the HGP. The NGP will enable natural gas from Narrabri to flow into the existing transmission network near Newcastle, supporting energy reliability across the region.

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

Community Consultative Committee and Advisory Groups

Effective community consultation is a vital part of our commitment to transparency and collaboration with the communities where we live and work.

As part of the conditions set by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for the NGP, Santos is required to establish and operate a Community Consultative Committee (CCC) and Advisory Groups in line with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Community Consultative Committee Guideline: State Significant Projects.

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

The CCC serves as a forum to facilitate open dialogue between the project proponent and representatives from the community, stakeholder groups and local councils on issues directly relating to a state significant project.

The next NGP CCC meeting will be held on Tuesday 16 September 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 advisory group meetings are available here.

Community Partnerships

All Roads Lead to AgQuip

Image: The Santos team onsite at the 2025 AgQuip Field Days

It’s one of the most anticipated agricultural events on the calendar, and this year was no exception with thousands of visitors and exhibitors flocking to the 2025 AgQuip Field Days in Gunnedah.

While attendance was down due to cold and rainy conditions, the Santos team still managed to have some great discussions with locals and visitors about our New South Wales operations.

Our technical experts and land access advisors fielded a broad range of questions again this year, with the most common themes centred on land access, gas use and infrastructure. Among the most frequent questions were:

Q: Will Narrabri gas be exported? A: Santos has committed 100 per of Narrabri gas to Australia’s domestic market, helping to put downward pressure on energy prices.

Q: Is the Hunter Gas Pipeline buried? A: The pipeline will be buried underground to ensure minimum impact to local communities, landholders and the environment.

Q: Will I be able to farm on my land after the pipeline is built? A: Yes, most normal agricultural activity can continue. You can grow most crops over the pipeline and drive most vehicles. You can even construct fences and roads – you just need to check in with us first. Santos will work with all landholders to ensure the pipeline design, where possible, can accommodate existing and future land use requirements.

Image: A model seismic survey truck on display at AgQuip

A new addition to our Santos display this year was a model seismic survey truck made entirely from Lego - a great visual resource used to demonstrate an important part of the gas exploration process. Our clever engineering team were even able to make the truck generate measurable vibrations – just like the real thing!

Santos has been attending AgQuip for almost two decades and always values the opportunity to meet with our community in such a great setting. We thank everyone who took the time to stop by our display this year to gain a better understanding of our local operations.

Image: The Santos team speaking with the local community at AgQuip

Getting Ready for the Koori Knockout

Image: The 2025 Koori Knockout will be held in Tamworth in October

We are delighted to sponsor Australia’s biggest Indigenous rugby league event, the Koori Knockout, which is coming to Tamworth in October, 2025.

The NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout is expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors to Tamworth, with a record number of 170 teams participating in the four-day event this year.

Being valued partners with local communities is central to our purpose and as a sponsor of the Kamilaroi Galaamays team for the past eight Koori Knockouts, Santos is excited to broaden our support in 2025 by becoming a major event partner.

A New Chapter Begins for Gunnedah Scouts

Image: The 1st Gunnedah Scout Group has re-formed with support from Santos

A group of dedicated local volunteers and families gathered to celebrate the much-anticipated re-opening of the Gunnedah Scout Group in late August.

With support from Santos, the group has trained a new generation of scout leaders and invested in equipment which will help local young people engage in fun and educational outdoor experiences.

The re-formation of the group has been driven by the Gunnedah community, with many families keen to see their children develop new skills and confidence through outdoor adventure activities.

With 17 young locals aged 5 to 14 years already enrolled, Santos is proud to help facilitate this new pathway to community connection and participation in the north-west.