Mining industry releases report stating resistance to coal seam gas projects will end expansion A liquefied-natural-gas (LNG) tanker, leaves a berth as holidaymakers fish on a pier in Yokohama City, Japan. The growing Asian economies are major importers of LNG. COMMUNITY activists fighting CSG projects with "myths" are putting at risk a potential $150 billion investment bonanza, a mining industry report to be released this week warns. And the industry is pressing the Coalition to pledge tougher workplace laws and slashed regulation before the September 14 election. Mining company executives are pointing to an opportunity to capitalise on growing liquified natural gas (LNG) markets which could be lost to gas producers in Africa and North America. Seven of the 13 LNG plants being built around the world are under construction in Australia but further expansion opportunities could be lost. LNG now supplies nine per cent of the world's energy and this could rise to 15 per cent by 2020, with lower carbon emissions than from coal power. LNG demand in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to rise from 160 million tonnes a year now to 320 million tonnes by 2025, the McKinsey study found. The window of opportunity for LNG projects is open for about 18 months. We have momentum on projects, and want to get through that window," the outgoing Australian chair of Shell Ann Pickard told reporters in Brisbane Sunday. Liquified Natural Gas producers increasingly are turning to coal seam gas as conventional supplies run down or prove too expensive to mine. Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell will go ahead with the world's first floating liquefied natural gas project. But in some parts of Queensland and in NSW they are being fought by an unusual combination of Greens, farmers, and broadcaster Alan Jones, a group Mr Byers said was well organised and very well funded. The Lock the Gates Alliance representing the resistance has accused mining companies of "riding roughshod over our governments and local communities." Mr Byers said: "Call it for what it is: it is a campaign which is based on some ideological objections to having kore gas into our energy supply system as distinct to going for more renewables." He said the research presented on CSG was being rejected by groups claiming it would harm water supplies and wreck productive pastures. The miners also are pointing in particular to the significantly lower labour costs in North America. Another industry executive said Australian labor costs were not only high against those of developing nations, they were greater than those of the US and Canada in similar work. State and federal governments both Liberal and Labor are threatening mine expansions which could see an extra $13 billion in taxes and royalties paid by 2020, according to the report commissioned the the Australian Petroleum Production Exploration Association (APPEA). "We do have some very big hurdles in front of us in order to keep this investment wave going," said the APPEA's chief executive David Byers on Sunday. Mr Byers said in an election year there was "a lot of people who are looking to win friends and votes by raising the hurdles that we face even higher." "And here I'm not just talking about the Greens," Mr Byers told reporters in Brisbane. In recent time we've seen government of both political persuasions at both federal and state levels prone to flip flopping on gas regulation. The writer flown to Brisbane by the APPEA