The Western Australian gas company infamously linked to National COVID-19 Coordination Commission chairman Nev Power should not receive a leg-up from the McGowan Government, according to Lock the Gate Alliance WA.
Strike Energy’s West Erregulla Gas Project was this morning awarded Lead Agency Status in WA, meaning it will receive special government assistance “with case-management for government interfaces, and the coordination of approvals across a range of Government departments”.
Strike Energy has previously flagged intentions to frack the West Erregulla site, located about 300km north of Perth, with “stimulation” of the well included on its original work plan.
Tight gas, which can be retrieved through fracking, was also mentioned in the company’s environmental plan.
LTGAWA spokesperson Simone van Hattem said the granting of public resources to Strike Energy was an affront to WA taxpayers.
“Opening up this basin further to gas companies could be paving the way for fracking, because we know there are shale and tight gas reserves in this basin, and that companies would need to frack to extract that gas,” she said.
“It’s increasingly clear that the gas and fracking industry can’t stand up on its own two feet without publicly funded assistance.
“Gas companies like Strike Energy should not be given special treatment just so they can cause environmental destruction to land and water.
“The McGowan Government should be ashamed to be so blatantly propping up this environmentally dangerous company.
“Major gas projects elsewhere are on hold or have been scrapped due to the coronavirus economic crisis and massive drop in the price of oil - backing a gas company now is like backing a lame horse.
“Instead, the McGowan Government should be doing what it can to encourage a faster transition to new, cheaper and cleaner renewable energy industries.”
