Australia’s New South Wales to Open New Gas Exploration Sites for First Time in a Decade

Australia’s New South Wales state will open new areas for gas exploration for the first time in more than a decade, to shore up energy security ahead of shortfalls on the country’s populous east coast.

Two regions in the state’s far west — the Bancannia Trough and the Pondie Range Trough — are open for prospecting, the NSW government said in a statement on Wednesday. Exploration license application fees will be cut to A$1,000 ($716) from A$50,000 to attract interest, it said.