US push for our clean gas exports(Australia)

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WHITE House officials are working to clear the final barriers to the sale of billions of dollars worth of Australian gas to the US by the end of the decade. Speaking ahead of crucial talks in Sydney this week on climate change and energy markets, a senior Bush administration official said the US Government was keen to see Australian liquefied natural gas gain direct access to US customers for the first time.

Australian companies, such as BHP Billiton, have been lobbying for three years to win access to the US market, with John Howard personally raising the issue with President George W.Bush and Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, concerns about the safety of LNG have delayed approval for a massive terminal off the coast of California that would transfer Australian gas from ships for sale in the US.

James Connaughton, Mr Bush's adviser on the environment, said at the weekend that the US Government was throwing its weight behind efforts to clear the way for the sale. "Certainly, California is an abundant user of natural gas, however, the siting of these terminals raises the same kinds of questions as do other activities off the coast of our shores," he said, adding that he was hoping "to work through those".

Approval for the gas terminal -- 20km offshore from Oxnard, about 100km north of Los Angeles -- could have shipments of Australian LNG sent to the US market by the end of the decade. Australian LNG, mostly from the giant fields off the coast of Western Australia, will feature in talks between the two countries at this week's inaugural Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate conference in Sydney.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17765314%255E601,00.html