SYDNEY, June 30 (Reuters) - The Australian government

said on Monday it will consider creating a gas reservation on

the country's east coast as part of a sweeping review of market

rules to prevent supply shortages.

The competition regulator has warned of looming shortfalls

for the country's populous east coast, with the latest forecast

pointing to a gap by 2028 without new investment. Most reserves

are located in the remote northwest.

Australia, which exports more gas than it consumes, is also

keen to maintain its reputation as a major reliable exporter of

liquefied natural gas (LNG) and that will be a major aim of the

review.

Market regulations under review include export controls, a

mandatory code governing sales of the fuel on the east coast and

government agreements with major producers.

"It's critical that we use this review to get the settings

right in our gas market, ensuring we are securing affordable

Australian gas for Australian use, while remaining a reliable

energy exporter and delivering lasting energy security in our

region," Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said in

a statement.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre left government

sees gas as playing a role beyond 2050 as the country moves

rapidly away from its dependence on coal-fired power stations.

The review will examine the "effectiveness and coherence" of

the current rules, identify improvements and consider

consolidating rules to create a more "stable regulatory

environment" for investors.

Areas of focus include supply security, pricing,

transparency, market conduct, and the impact of regulations on

the competitiveness of Australia's LNG export industry.

Speaking about the potential for a gas reservation, Bowen

told a news conference that any new requirements would be

"prospective" without "ripping up existing contracts".

Some of the government's policies have come under fire from

industry players. In particular, it introduced caps on wholesale

prices in 2022 to keep energy prices down in the wake of

Russia's war on Ukraine. The price cap has since been

incorporated into the mandatory industry code of conduct.

Japanese LNG importers, some of Australia's biggest

customers, have told Reuters that the Labor government's

policies have increased supply uncertainty and hiked costs at

gas facilities in which they have stakes.

Major gas producers, including Shell, which exports

gas from the Queensland Curtis LNG project, and ExxonMobil ( XOM )

, which produces gas in the Bass Strait, have also been

critical.