A spokesman for Dart Energy confirmed today if the project proceeded, Dart Energy would have 20 per cent equity in Maria’s Farm Veggies, planned by Mr Disselkoen, who has purchased 154 hectares of land for the horticultural project.

Dart said in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) it had entered into a memorandum of understanding for its first gas sale in NSW. The project, expected to be completed by 2013, will initially grow tomatoes, capsicum and cucumbers and Dart said it would generate up to 200 jobs.

The project will feature a 16 hectare glasshouse and 4000 square metre propagation facility, employing advanced Dutch glass technology.

“The proposal is still subject to various conditions, including final local planning approvals and Dart Energy establishing commercial gas flow from the area,” the statement said.

“Dart Energy expects to drill two wells at Fullerton Cove in the first half of 2012 as part of its gas appraisal program.”

Dart Energy chief executive Robert de Weijer said the project demonstrated that CSG could exist with agriculture in an environmentally sustainable way.

“This shows how our CSG project can not only co-exist with, but can indeed facilitate sustainable food production and associated job creation in NSW,” he said in the ASX statement.

“This project also highlights Dart’s key point of difference in CSG in NSW, that is the development of small scale, energy efficient power projects.”