Territorians condemn the Finocchiaro Government’s approval of gas company Empire Energy’s Carpentaria project, and renew calls for the Albanese Government to use the powers available to it to protect water from fracking.
Empire Energy confirmed the approval to the ASX this morning. The specific details are not yet available because the Northern Territory Government has 14 days to publish the approval on its website.
However, Empire Energy’s original application indicated its Carpentaria fracking project would:
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Require nearly one billion litres of groundwater from the important gum ridge aquifer over the project’s four year lifespan.
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Produce up to 475,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution each year, despite the Pepper Inquiry recommendation 9.8 which states fracking should only go ahead if there can be no net increase in emissions.
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Produce 600 cubic metres of drilling waste per well for each of its nine wells. Empire previously provided no information about how it will dispose of this waste.
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Store contaminated waste water in huge, open, man-made ponds, contrary to recommendations this practice be avoided to prevent the risk of spills.
The project has already attracted significant criticism, with Traditional Owners raising concerns earlier this year after it was revealed Empire Energy failed to report a find of ancient stone tools near one of its existing exploration wells to the heritage regulator.
This is the second Empire Energy project approved by the Finocchiaro Government since it came to power, despite the company’s history.
Arid Lands Environment Centre spokesperson Hannah Ekin said, “Each new fracking well is doing the Territory damage, posing serious contamination risks to water that sustains towns and communities.
“Fracking involves mixing huge volumes of water with toxic chemicals and sand, and pushing them deep underground at high pressure. It’s a recipe for disaster.
“Despite Empire Energy’s track record, the Finocchiaro Government has approved this exploration permit. This doesn’t pass the pub test.
“The Finocchiaro Government is deploying a scorched earth strategy to push through as many fracking projects as possible with the least amount of environmental regulatory oversight. This will harm Territorians. No one wins from this except for fracking companies.
“The CLP Government is trampling over Territorians to do the bidding of big gas companies. The planned creation of the Territory Coordinator will give fracking companies a free run to inflict whatever damage they want on Territory communities and our unique environment.
“We’re calling on the Albanese Government to urgently call in this project using the Water Trigger in national environment laws so a proper independent review of the risks can be conducted."
ENDS