Gas Prices Fall as Fears Over Australian Strike Recede

Wholesale gas prices in Europe have fallen after a planned strike at Australia’s largest liquefied natural gas plant looked to have been averted.

The walkout at Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf plant had threatened to disrupt global LNG supplies, driving up gas prices sharply.

But on Thursday the firm reached an agreement in principle with unions, which it is hoped will halt the strike.

Benchmark EU and UK gas prices are down almost 33% since their peak on Tuesday.

Employee representatives at the North West Shelf plant said they were “supportive of the in-principle agreement” with Woodside Energy and would vote to ratify the deal.

Following the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia slashed supplies of natural gas to Europe, which led countries to seek out alternative sources of energy.

Many countries are relying on Liquified Natural Gas to fill the gap, with Australia being one of world’s largest exporters.

It has led to a gradual fall in global gas prices and energy bills, which soared in 2022.

However, the prospect that workers at the North West Shelf plant might walk out on September 2 had sparked fears that prices would start to rise again