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Major Gas Threat

Barossa Basin

Northern Territory (offshore)

How many emissions are in the Barossa Basin?

If the Barossa gas is extracted, developed and burned, it would release 15.6 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. That’s more than three million passenger cars for each year the project operates. 

A recent IEFFA report found that Barossa gas has three times the CO2 content that the Darwin LNG plant facility can handle. Santos’ own documents reveal that two thirds of the CO2 from the Barossa offshore gas field will be vented directly into the atmosphere before the gas is piped into Darwin. When venting and combustion emissions, both on and off-shore, are calculated, the Barossa to Darwin LNG project looks more like a CO2 emissions factory with an LNG by-product.

The main component of gas is methane, which is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term and is emitted in vast quantities across the entire gas supply chain.

Who’s investing in the Barossa basin?

Macquarie Bank is an equity holder and debt provider for the joint venture that is building the floating production and storage unit element of the Barossa project, while all four of the big banks were involved in Santos’ acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ Northern Australia Assets that make up the project.

SK E&S is a South Korean energy company owning 37.5% of Barossa. The company’s ties to the project don’t stack up with its self-proclaimed green profile and tagline as a ‘Clean Energy & Solution Provider.’ It recently faced a legal challenge in South Korea for greenwashing, having claimed that liquefied natural gas from the Barossa project will be “CO2-free”.

Tiwi Islanders have not been consulted about the Barossa project

The Barossa gas project has been in development since 2004. But in all that time, the companies behind Barossa have not properly consulted Tiwi Islanders about the project.

Santos’ proposed pipeline will be laid through Tiwi sea country and into Darwin, Larrakia country. It will put the Tiwi Islanders’ pristine sea country at risk and threaten sea life, while cutting right through a critical cultural site for the Dangalaba and Larrakia people.

Traditional Owners fear for their way of life, and are concerned for the welfare of the local wildlife.
Source: NITV News

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