Businesses across the state, hard hit by the current gas crisis, are hoping the creation of a new more transparent energy marketplace will help them secure much needed gas supplies.

The state's peak business organisation, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, has been a lead voice in calling for the creation of a simple and clear mechanism to match customers in need with supplies of gas following the incident at Varanus Island last month.

The Gas Bulletin Board, to be managed by the Independent Market Operator under contract to the Office of Energy, aims to be a matchmaking service for buyers and sellers of gas. It allows sellers to post information on how much gas is available and at what price.

With a large number of WA businesses and industries hit hard by the loss of up to one third of the state's gas supplies, and the outage costing companies hundreds of millions of dollars a week, it is important they are provided with accurate and timely information about the availability of freed up gas supplies.

CCI hopes the Gas Bulletin Board will help adversely affected businesses and industries secure the gas they need to keep their doors open.

With full gas supplies not expected to be restored until summer, the sharing of information is crucial in a situation as serious as the one Western Australia finds itself in.

Meanwhile, all Western Australians continue to play an important role in helping business and industry through this gas crisis. Whatever energy can be conserved by households and business could help save business, save jobs and minimise the impact on the economy.

With the gas crisis now in its fifth week, and it likely to continue for many more months, the need to conserve as much energy as possible remains critical.

CCI urges all energy consumers, especially households, to continue to cut back their energy use by turning off heaters, taking shorter showers, and turning off lights and electrical equipment when not in use.

Every molecule of gas conserved by Western Australians can be redirected to business and industry in need.

Statement by CCI Acting Executive Director, Industry Policy, Trevor Lovelle