Natural gas is taking an increasingly central role in global energy supply, and this is certain to continue into the future. Much effort is going into development of cost efficient methods to take gas from source to market One of the areas in which breakthroughs have been realised is the gas to liquids technology. For a major gas resource holder like Australia this creates opportunities as well as challenges. On the one hand does GTL fit with the strategic drivers: 1. to maximise the value from the gas for the Australian people, including through exports 2. to diversify the country's energy supply 3. to increase the supply of environmentally clean fuels, into the country in a cost effective manner. On the other hand there is the reality that Australia is characterised by high, remote location, construct/or and operating costs compared to other countries. In a world where investment flows to places where it can generate the most retums, this presents the Australian Government with a considerable challenge. This is (partly) offset by the fact that Australia is very attractive because of its stable investment climate This paper addresses the opportunities and dilemmas which Australia is facing and explains the action the Australian government has and will take to encourage GTL investments in Australia.
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