Looking to the Year Ahead

Image: Our teams are looking forward to another productive year in 2026

Welcome to our first NSW Monthly Activities Update for 2026 - I hope it finds you well after an enjoyable Christmas break, and ahead of what will hopefully be a positive and productive new year for all.

Here at Santos, our teams are gearing up for some important steps forward on our NSW projects this year - with plans to progress the Narrabri Gas Project and Hunter Gas Pipeline in a number of areas including exploration, land access and regulatory approvals.

Importantly, Santos will soon lodge the pipeline licence application for the Hunter Gas Pipeline - marking a significant milestone for the project.  Santos' strong preference is to reach voluntary agreements with landholders. We encourage landholders hosting the pipeline to talk to our Land Access team to make sure individual property circumstances are considered before the pipeline licence application is lodged. This is the final opportunity to have your questions, concerns and feedback considered as part of the pipeline alignment. Further information is available in the Hunter Gas Pipeline section of this newsletter.

Our community team is also preparing for another busy year, with the calendar of events quickly filling across the Narrabri and Hunter regions. These occasions always provide such a valuable opportunity to speak with locals, with many keen to ask questions and provide feedback about our activities. As we enter the new year our team are also working to improve the way we engage, consult and communicate with our stakeholders - ensuring we remain open, transparent and approachable to local communities.

With the new year already well underway, the Santos team remains enthusiastic and optimistic about progressing the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP).  I look forward to working with our partners and supporters again in 2026 to keep the momentum moving forward.

Andrew Snars - Santos NSW Manager Community 

Natural gas plays a vital role in our local energy mix, helping to generate the electricity that powers our homes, businesses and everyday lives. It is also crucial feedstock in industrial processes for making products like textiles, plastics and fertilisers. It will continue to be a key component in the state’s transition to a lower carbon energy future, producing approximately half the emissions of coal.  

The growth of renewable energy sources like solar and wind means that maintaining a stable and reliable power grid is increasingly important. Gas-fired generators offer critical support by quickly ramping up during periods of high demand or when renewable sources are unable to meet energy needs – such as when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Natural gas provides the flexibility and reliability essential to ensure a smooth transition to a more sustainable energy system. 

More than 1.5 million households and 50,000 small businesses in NSW are connected to gas networks, and about one-third of small customers use gas to meet part of their energy needs. Despite having significant undeveloped gas resources, NSW imports 100 per cent of its gas from interstate. 

The NGP involves the development and production of natural gas near Narrabri. The project represents a significant step forward in securing New South Wales’ energy future 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 offers an opportunity for NSW to harness its own energy resources, 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. 

Santos is proposing to deliver natural gas from Narrabri to the east coast domestic market via two new underground pipelines - the Hunter Gas Pipeline and the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline. Survey activities are currently underway on private and public land as Santos works to confirm the pipeline route.  Learn more about these projects on our website. 

​Finalising Approvals for the Hunter Gas Pipeline

Santos will soon lodge the pipeline licence application for the Hunter Gas Pipeline (Narrabri to Hexham). Santos' strong preference is to reach voluntary agreements with landholders. We encourage landholders hosting the pipeline to speak with our Land Access team to make sure individual property circumstances are considered before the pipeline licence is lodged.

This is the final opportunity to have your questions, concerns and feedback considered as part of the pipeline alignment. Your feedback is important to us.

Santos will fairly compensate landholders identified to host the Hunter Gas or Narrabri Lateral pipelines on their properties and will also provide them $30,000 (ex GST) to obtain their own independent professional advice, including legal and valuation services, to help support the Deed of Option for Easement negotiation process.  This amount is obligation free and the landholder will have control over the use of the funds. We encourage landholders to contact our Land Access team to find out more. 

Who owns the pipeline easement?

Myth: There is a common misconception Santos will own and control the Hunter Gas Pipeline easement, with the ability to restrict landholder access. 

Fact: The 30-metre easement allows Santos access to construct, operate and maintain the pipeline. The landholder retains ownership of their land.

Santos has produced a factsheet which addresses some of the common myths surrounding the Hunter Gas Pipeline - click the link below to find out more.

​Animation: pipeline construction explained

Want to learn more about how the Hunter Gas and Narrabri Lateral Pipelines will be constructed? Santos has developed an animation of the pipeline construction process - click the link below to learn more. 

Environmental Impact Statement Submissions Close

The public exhibition period for the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline Environmental Impact Statement closed on December 18, with 375 submissions received. Santos will provide a response to these submissions to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure before the application proceeds to final assessment.

Community Consultative Committee and advisory groups

The most recent Narrabri Gas Project Community Consultative Committee meeting was held on Tuesday 9 December 2025.  The meeting minutes are available here. 

The Aboriginal and Cultural Heritage, Biodiversity, Greenhouse Gas and Water Advisory Group meetings were held on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 December.  Minutes from the advisory group meetings can be accessed here.