Shell Condemns Australia's LNG Plans

Shell warned on Tuesday that a proposal in Australia to force more export gas into the domestic market could end up deterring investment and exacerbating shortages.

Ahead of Australia's May 3 general election, energy has emerged as a major campaign issue with the conservative Liberal-National coalition pledging to bring down power bills and prevent a looming shortage on the east coast through a gas reservation scheme.

However, Shell Australia Chair Cecile Wake said export controls were not the right solution and questioned whether they would materially affect consumer prices.

"The fact that the easiest lever the federal government now has to solve the southern gas problem is export controls, is not a reason to pull that lever harder," she told a gas conference in Sydney.

"This does not increase supply; it simply redistributes it and when coupled with price caps and other market interventions, it can impede investment and exacerbate the challenge."

Australia produces more gas than domestic needs, but most supply is contracted for export. The competition regulator has warned the east could face a gas shortage by 2027.

Coalition opposition leader Peter Dutton said that if elected, his party would force exporters to direct 10% to 20% more