Santos has quietly been granted federal environmental approval to drill 116 new coal seam gasoline wells in Queensland.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s division on Friday gave the inexperienced mild for fossil gasoline producer Towrie’s challenge within the Arcadia Valley, about 500 kilometres northwest of Brisbane.
The approval of 116 new wells, which can produce coal seam gasoline from the Surat Basin for 30 years and be linked to the Santos-owned GLNG gasoline export challenge in central Queensland, wasn’t extensively publicised.
Deputy Greens chief Mehreen Faruqi slammed the approval, saying Labor’s local weather change credibility was in tatters and talks on an emissions safeguard mechanism had been in query.
“Gas is as dirty as coal, we’re in the middle of a climate crisis and Tanya Plibersek needs to explain why Labor is approving new gas fracking until 2077,” Senator Faruqi mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday.
“Labor seems desperate to open up new coal and gas while they can. The Greens will continue negotiations, but Labor seems to want new coal and gas mines more than they want their safeguard mechanism.”
Environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance mentioned the Santos challenge was at odds with worldwide efforts to halt fossil gasoline enlargement, to maintain international temperature rises inside 2C of pre-industrial ranges.
Lock the Gate nationwide coordinator Ellen Roberts additionally mentioned it could result in the industrialisation of the picturesque Arcadia Valley and danger contaminating groundwater utilized by native farmers.
“This is the reality of coal seam gas expansion – once-beautiful farming districts are irreparably degraded and industrialised due to the drilling of many hundreds of gas wells, access roads, and wastewater treatment plants,” Lock the Gate nationwide coordinator Ellen Roberts mentioned in an announcement.
“Groundwater beneath the land is drained and placed at risk of contamination.”
In an announcement on Tuesday night time, Santos mentioned it welcomed the choice.
“GLNG will spend more than a billion dollars this year alone drilling new wells and developing infrastructure to support supply into its long-term contracts with customers in Korea and Malaysia,” the assertion learn.
“All new gas supply projects, whether for domestic or LNG markets, help to ease the pressure on the east coast gas market.
“The software for the wells was made two years in the past and has undergone a sturdy environmental evaluation course of, together with by the Independent Expert Scientific Committee.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
