Australian government strikes deal with gas suppliers to avoid winter shortfall

A Santos gas well in Narrabri. Australia’s three largest exporters Santos, ConocoPhillips and Shell have struck an agreement to ensure secure supplies of gas. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

The government has struck a deal with the three major gas exporters on the east coast that will ensure sufficient supplies of the fossil fuel are available to avoid a potential shortfall next year.

The federal resources minister, Madeleine King, said on Thursday she had signed a new heads of agreement with the three big LNG exporters – Santos’s GLNG plant, the ConocoPhillips-led APLNG group and Shell’s QGC operations.