据普氏能源资讯悉尼12月18日消息 澳大利亚竞争监管机构周二表示，该国东海岸天然气生产商对燃料进行勘探的步伐可谓是“令人失望地缓慢”，并将密切关注其决策。

澳大利亚竞争与消费者委员会在重申其对2019年气密地区应有足够供应的观点的同时表示，如果及时投资天然气开发和关键基础设施，可能会缓解对市场天然气价格的长期担忧。

澳大利亚东海岸天然气供应问题引发政府对液化天然气出口商施加了巨大压力，同时也引起了工业天然气用户的担忧。澳洲竞争与消费者公署主席罗德•西姆斯周一表示：“一旦大型制造商搬迁或关闭工厂，它们就不会再回来了。”

除了联邦政府对该地区三家液化天然气生产商施加的压力外，该监管机构也将密切关注它们的开发决定。因为这三家生产商控制着东海岸目前已探明和可能储量的80%。

吴慧丹 摘译自 普氏能源资讯

原文如下：

Australian watchdog to monitor east coast LNG exporters' supply development decisions

Australia's competition watchdog said Tuesday that the pace at which the country's east coast gas producers have undertaken exploration for the fuel "has been disappointingly slow" and will monitor their decisions closely.

While reconfirming its view that there should be adequate supply in the gas-tight region in 2019, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said longer-term concerns about prices in the market could be alleviated if there is timely investment in gas development and key infrastructure.

The contentious issue of gas supply on Australia's east coast has seen strong government pressure on LNG exporters and concerns from commercial and industrial gas users. "Once large manufacturers relocate or shut down their plants, they won't come back," the ACCC's chair Rod Sims said Monday.

Adding to the federal government's pressure on the region's three LNG producers, which control over 80% of current proved and probable reserves on the east coast, the watchdog will keep a close eye on their development decisions.