Lock the Gate Alliance has called for an investigation following revelations that a Darwin export gas facility has been leaking plumes of methane for nearly two decades, and the companies and authorities knew about it since at least 2020.
Freedom of Information documents obtained by Environment Centre NT reveal a twenty-year history of methane leaks from Darwin's LNG export hub since 2006, with multiple regulators - including the Federal Clean Energy Regulator, NOPSEMA and the NT EPA - being made aware of the pollution leak but failing to take action.
ConocoPhillips, which operated the facility and failed to report the leaks, also owns 47.5 per cent of APLNG, a joint venture with Origin Energy which is currently progressing plans for a massive, 4000-plus gas well expansion project in Central Queensland.
The new owner of Darwin LNG, Santos, is among the companies hoping to frack for gas in the Beetaloo sub basin, south of Katherine. In January, Santos revealed it was considering a second production facility at Darwin LNG for gas from the Beetaloo.
Darwin local and Lock the Gate Alliance NT spokesperson Louis Boyle-Bryant said, “These documents reveal a pattern of misinformation and government failure, which confirm that the gas industry cannot be trusted.
“These documents reveal ConocoPhillips gave scant regard to the environment and the safety of people in Darwin and that NOPSEMA and the EPA totally failed us.
"The gas industry in the NT has been caught red-handed putting the environment, climate and people of Darwin at risk while regulators have been asleep at the wheel for almost two decades.
“I grew up in the Territory and I love living here, but decisions like this are a kick in the guts and show the people responsible don’t take our future seriously.
"Territorians have been told repeatedly by the government and the gas companies that the fracking industry can be managed responsibly in the Beetaloo basin and the public protected from harm, but these revelations show they have been treating us like mugs. There needs to be a full public investigation into this scandal and a wider inquiry into pollution from the gas industry. "
ENDS