Australia Pacific LNG has begun production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at its Curtis Island facility in Australia and is on track to export its first cargo by the end of the year, according to project partner Origin Energy Ltd. Origin’s David Baldwin, CEO of integrated gas, said, “With first LNG production, Australia Pacific LNG has now achieved its last major milestone prior to exporting LNG to customers in Asia. The Origin-operated upstream activities, which deliver gas to Curtis Island, are fully operational and performing well, and Origin, together with partners ConocoPhillips and Sinopec, are now focused on achieving first export. Australia Pacific LNG produces natural gas from a reserves base in the Surat and Bowen basins in Queensland, Australia. The gas is piped to the LNG facility on Curtis Island (see Daily GPI, July 9, 2012).

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is offering rebates to state residents to help with the cost of purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle, including those that use natural gas. The program is being funded by the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program, which is supported by a gross receipts tax on utilities. Rebates of $1,000 are being offered for natural gas, propane, hydrogen and fuel-cell vehicles, as well as for plug-in hybrid electric and battery electric vehicles. The DEP is also offering a $2,000 rebate for large-battery vehicles. They must be registered in Pennsylvania. DEP said it would reevaluate the program after the first 250 rebates are issued or on June 16, 2016, whichever comes first.