Australian government gives final approval for $41 billion gas sale to China

On Tuesday August 25, 2009, 10:21 pm EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- Australia gave final approval Wednesday for a natural gas field development that will export $41 billion in energy to China over 20 years.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett said that joint venture partner Chevron had agreed to meet the 28 environmental conditions he had set for the development of the Gorgon gas field off northwest Australia.

The conditions for the development on Barrow Island include that the developers safeguard the rare flatback turtle which shares the habitat.

"My expectation is that the company will be more than willing to meet these conditions," Garrett told reporters. "It is the case that there is agreement on the basis of the conditions that I put forward and I welcome that."

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