Shell and its partner PetroChina have approved the next tranche of capital expenditure required to maintain gas supply to the Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) export facility.
The decision commits hundreds of millions of dollars to drilling more than 14 new wells, ensuring the plant continues to receive the feedstock necessary for its operations.
The move underscores the strategic importance of the QCLNG asset to both companies, despite ongoing policy friction in Australia.
Shell has publicly urged the Albanese government to postpone its planned domestic gas reservation scheme, citing serious flaws in the proposed framework.
The capex approval signals that the energy giants are proceeding with supply security measures independently of the regulatory debate.
This development comes as Shell has recently upgraded its integrated gas production outlook, pointing to resilience in its upstream operations.