GLNG faces restrictions

Over 300 environmental conditions have been applied to the QCLNG and GLNG projects from the Surat and Bowen basins to Curtis Island off Gladstone.

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ENVIRONMENT Minister Tony Burke approved with strict environmental conditions the Santos (GLNG) and Queensland Gas Company (QCLNG) coal seam gas (CSG to liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects last week.

The approval is to develop, construct operate and decommission coal seam gas resources in the Surat and Bowen basins to supply gas for natural gas liquefaction and export facilities on Curtis Island.

Minister Burke has imposed more than 300 conditions on each project to protect groundwater -dependent species and minimise other environmental impacts.

The approvals are the toughest conditions ever applied to any industry in Australia and the most stringent conditions ever applied to the LNG industry.

The companies must carry out detailed planning and monitoring to protect groundwater resources, submit management plans for aquifers, groundwater and surface water for approval and the conditions also contain detailed protection measures for National and World Heritage values.

Santos chief executive David Knox said the company was committed to implementing comprehensive environmental management plans.

“GLNG has undergone a thorough and comprehensive environmental approval and community consultation process,” Mr Knox said.

In early October, The Observer reported QGC senior vice-president Ian Bradshaw saying QGC has been sitting at the Federal Government’s table discussing and negotiating the conditions. “We are actually swapping drafts on a day by day basis,” Mr Bradshaw said at the time.

Since the announcement QGC have remained silent and haven’t released a statement regarding the approvals.

The Observer contacted QGC yesterday and asked in the post-approval week of the government’s decision –what is QGC’s opinion of the conditions imposed on the QCLNG project?

A QGC spokesperson said the company is still reviewing the conditions set out by the Minister.

“We are not in a position to comment further until we fully understand the implications of the decisions.”

Both Santos and QCG are expected to make a final investment decision (FID) in December; however, the strict environmental conditions have raised concerns with analysts who feel the Federal Government may have gone too far where the proponents have to work out whether the projects are still viable.

Surat Basin environmental campaigner Friends of the Earth Drew Hutton said the government has imposed reasonable conditions on the companies.

“However, the Minister has given the approval to these companies to go ahead and told them they have to prove within a certain amount of time they won’t cause environmental harm to such natural resource icons as the Great Artesian Basin or the reef,” Mr Hutton said. “This is entirely the wrong way round. QGC and Santos should be showing they won’t cause harm before they get the approval,” he said.

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