Back to overview Home Fossil Energy Australia in need of new gas investments to ensure energy security Australia in need of new gas investments to ensure energy security Market Outlooks July 1, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic Share this article Australian Energy Producers, representing Australia’s upstream oil and gas exploration and production industry, has welcomed the 2026 Integrated System Plan (ISP) from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), which highlights the need for new gas investments to enable grid reliability. Illustration; Source: Australian Energy Producers The Australian Energy Market Operator’s 2026 Integrated System Plan is interpreted to reaffirm the critical role of gas in supporting reliable and affordable electricity to 2050, which will require more investment in new gas supply and infrastructure . Australian Energy Producers’ Chief Executive sees the ISP as another reminder that governments need to ensure policy settings support the investment in gas needed to maintain a reliable and affordable energy system. Samantha McCulloch , Australian Energy Producers’s Chief Executive, commented: “The ISP reaffirms that the National Electricity Market (NEM) will need more gas power generation to keep the lights on and power prices down. As more renewables enter the system and coal retires, gas will play an increasingly important role in maintaining reliability and supporting energy security. “That is why governments must provide stable and predictable policy settings that encourage investment in the gas resources and infrastructure needed to support the transition.” This content is available after accepting the cookies. Change cookie-settings View on Offshore-energy. Australian gas reservation draft raises the alarm over export reliability Based on the ISP, the least-cost pathway to achieve net zero is a system built around renewable energy, which is linked through transmission and distribution networks, bolstered with storage and supported by gas. This