Victoria says it is getting out of gas – so why has it approved a new LNG import terminal?

Storage tanks at an LNG import terminal in south-east England. The Victorian government has approved a plan to build a gas import terminal near wetlands on the Bellarine peninsula. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

Victoria has approved a plan to bring in gas by sea from other states and even overseas, giving the go-ahead to a gas import terminal near Geelong.

Viva Energy’s import terminal, which would enable up to 160 petajoules (PJ) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be shipped to Victoria each year – about 88% of the state’s gas consumption – still requires approval under federal environmental laws.