Santos NSW

Monthly Activities Update

July 2025

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

Santos in the community

Join us at AgQuip

We are heading along to AgQuip again this year, one of the most highly anticipated primary industry field days in Australia, held in Gunnedah 19-21 August. We'll have a team of technical and land access experts available to answer your questions about our operations in the local area, including the Narrabri Gas Project, Hunter Gas Pipeline and Narrabri Lateral Pipeline. We’ll be at site H12 so please drop in and have a chat.

If you don’t catch us at AgQuip, you can reach out to us any time by phone on (02) 6790 9235 or email at Energy.NSW@santos.com.

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 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.

Australian Energy Market Operator Gas Bulleting Board (GBB) Gas Supply and Demand - 31 July 2025

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. June power production was an average of 360MWh 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 crucial connection between the NGP and the HGP. This ‘missing link’ 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 most recent NGP CCC meeting was 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 advisory group meetings are available here.

Community Partnerships

NSW Rugby - regional coaching clinics

Image: Local junior rugby players benefit from coaching clinics brought to regional communities.

Sport is a powerful connector in regional communities, and Santos is helping make that connection stronger through its partnership with NSW Rugby. This month, Santos supported a series of free holiday coaching clinics in Gunnedah, Quirindi, Scone, Muswellbrook, and Singleton - bringing elite training directly to local junior players.

Led by Waratahs stars Fergus Lee-Warner and Michael McDonald, the clinics focused on advanced skills, tactical development, and leadership.

This initiative is part of a broader commitment by Santos to support grassroots sport and community wellbeing. By investing in programs that promote active lifestyles and personal growth, Santos is helping ensure that kids in regional areas have access to the same opportunities as those in major centres.

Narrabri Polocrosse Carnival draws international players

Image: Smiles all round at this year’s Narrabri Polocrosse Carnival.

This year’s Narrabri Polocrosse Carnival attracted more than 400 riders and 68 teams representing Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales (including the NSW representative team) as well as international teams from the UK and USA. The three-day celebration of sport, community, and horsemanship is one of the most prestigious on the polocrosse calendar. There were many worthy winners across all grades, with the main A Grade event won by a team from Albury. With a proud 50-year history, the event continues to foster equestrian participation across all ages and skill levels.

With over a decade of support, Santos is proud to stand alongside the club in its commitment to helping the local community thrive through sport while building a vibrant equestrian culture in the region.

Santos and the Wean Picnic Races: celebrating community and tradition

Image: Wean Amateur Picnic Races – a standout on the rural events calendar.

One of the largest crowds in recent years gathered at the Wean Racecourse in mid-July for the much-loved Wean Amateur Picnic Races. The event delivered a full day of country racing, fashion, family picnics, and fun under this year’s “Black and White” theme.

Santos has proudly supported the Wean Races for over 16 years—helping to keep this iconic event thriving. Our ongoing partnership reflects a strong commitment to regional communities and preserving local traditions.

With its stunning bush setting and 90-year history, the Wean Races remain a standout on the rural events calendar - where community spirit and country charm shine.

Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2025: community, culture and connection

Image: NAIDOC Week 2025 – celebrating culture and identity.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy”, inspired a week of vibrant community events to honour the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In the Narrabri and Gunnedah areas, local schools marked the occasion with assemblies, and student-led performances that provided a meaningful opportunity to learn, reflect, and celebrate the contributions of First Nations peoples, while Local Aboriginal Land Councils hosted events that brought community together to celebrate culture and identity.

Santos is proud to be part of local NAIDOC Week activities as they help foster respect, inclusion, and celebration of First Nations culture in the region.

Narrabri Clay Target Club's annual King of Kaputar carnival

Image: Narrabri Clay Target Club's annual King of Kaputar carnival

Santos recognises the importance of local sporting clubs in bringing communities together through shared passion and competition. We were proud to support the Narrabri Clay Target Club in hosting its annual King of Kaputar carnival in late July. The six-event program drew an impressive crowd of more than 100 competitors. Participants travelled from as far as Southern Queensland, the Victorian border and all across NSW for the two-day event, highlighting the sport’s popularity and regional camaraderie.

Mark your calendars - Santos Festival of Rugby returns to Narrabri

In partnership with Queensland Rugby Union and New South Wales Rugby Union, Santos is pleased to present the 2025 Santos Festival of Rugby, 20-21 September.

The centrepiece of the festival will be a game between the Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs Super Rugby teams. Playing for the Santos Cup, this is a chance for the teams to finish the season with one last epic hit-out.

Besides the action on the field, the program of events will include junior coaching clinics and family fun activities. There will be live entertainment throughout the weekend too.

Thank you to the Narrabri Shire Council for their continued support!

WHEN: 20-21 September 2025

WHERE: Dangar Park, home of the Narrabri Blue Boars Rugby Club (Corner Boheena & Wukawa Street, Narrabri NSW 2390)

For more information, head to https://www.santos.com/festival-of-rugby/. Tickets go on sale in August.