Urgent Call for Federal Action: Environmental Groups Demand Solutions Amid Ongoing Methane Emissions from Darwin LNG Facility

Environmental groups are sounding the alarm after discovering that a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export hub in Darwin has been leaking methane since 2006. This leak, coming from a storage tank owned by Santos, has been largely ignored by regulatory authorities despite ongoing awareness of the issue.

A recent report from ABC highlighted how state and federal agencies failed to address repairs or replacements, even while they approved Santos’ controversial Barossa offshore gas project. This leak adds significant challenges to Australia’s efforts to cut methane emissions, which is crucial for fighting climate change. Experts stress that effective climate action must take precedence over profit for both governments and industries.

The original owner of the tank, ConocoPhillips, first identified the leak as small back in 2006. However, advanced drone technology used in 2019 and 2020 revealed a much larger problem—up to 184 kilograms of methane escaping each hour. Alarmingly, this critical data wasn’t reported to the Northern Territory’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for several months.

Currently, Santos, which oversees the tank now, claims the leak is stable and represents a moderate climate risk while regulators have yet to enforce repairs. They argue that they have regulatory approvals and an ongoing monitoring program, providing annual greenhouse gas emissions reports.

Methane is a significant contributor to global warming, responsible for about 30% of it. Over a 20-year period, methane’s heat-trapping potential is around 86 times stronger than that of carbon dioxide. This leak exemplifies the inefficiencies within Australia’s gas regulatory system, which is under scrutiny for its lack of transparency.

The pollution surrounding this leak raises serious health concerns. Communities near Darwin already face air quality issues due to bushfires and emissions from the nearby Inpex LNG plant, which emits harmful substances like hydrogen sulfide. This combination leads to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is connected to approximately 1.4 million deaths each year from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

The problem of methane leaks isn’t confined to Darwin. Similar leaks have been reported across the country, including alarming discoveries from a Queensland coal mine. With fossil fuel projects expanding in Australia, including Woodside’s Northwest Shelf gas project, the situation is becoming increasingly urgent.

Experts are calling for immediate action to reduce methane emissions and tackle carbon dioxide levels. The fossil fuel industry’s influence is significant, and a coordinated effort is necessary to push for meaningful reforms to protect our planet.

For more details, you can check reputable sources like the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change and environmental studies that delve deeper into these pressing issues.

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