An independent assessment of the anticipated carbon and methane emissions resulting from the proposed gas fracking project in the Beetaloo Basin of the Northern Territory (NT) and the proposed processing activities at the Middle Arm gas hub has revealed a significant underestimation of these emissions.
Additionally, it has highlighted the inadequacy of available offsets to mitigate these emissions.
Researchers from Climate Analytics conducted this analysis, which casts doubt on a crucial assertion by the NT government, backed by federal support, that there would be “”no net increase in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions emitted in Australia from any onshore shale gas produced in NT”.
This examination challenges the conclusions of a previous report from the CSIRO Gas Industry Social & Environment Research Alliance (GISERA), an organization that receives substantial funding from the gas industry.
According to the analysis, the GISERA report substantially miscalculated the expected methane leakage connected to gas projects by a minimum of 56%. It also underestimated the emissions linked to liquefied natural gas production by a margin of 57% to 89%, and it undervalued the level of direct emissions associated with gas projects by 44% to 110%.
Furthermore, the analysis reveals that the CSIRO modeling “underestimated annual onshore emissions by up to 84% from the scenarios used”.
“This new research from Climate Analytics shows that GISERA has underestimated the carbon pollution fracking the Beetaloo and exporting the gas from Middle Arm would unleash.”
“The existence of GISERA within CSIRO looks to us like a clear example of state capture.”
Australian Parents for Climate Darwin member Phil Scott, said
These developments come as submissions to the Senate Middle Arm Inquiry are set to close today.
“If it is allowed to proceed, this single project could undo all of our efforts to cut emissions. Beetaloo and Middle Arm are a climate bomb. They will produce vast volumes of emissions which cannot be offset. The atmosphere doesn’t respond to clever accounting, overly optimistic projections and reliance on offsets – only on how many tonnes of emissions end up there.”
Adjunct Professor Bill Hare, Murdoch University
The fossil fuel Beetaloo basin located 500 kilometers south of Darwin surpasses any existing gas project on Western Australia’s North-West Shelf in size. Calculations suggest that there will be 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions released by the year 2050, spanning a 25-year period. This figure represents a 45% increase compared to the data reported.
“The climate analytics report is shocking but unsurprising. This analysis shows just how harmful Tamboran’s mega-gas project is.”
“Tamboran’s climate destroying emissions cannot be offset and their contribution to the climate crisis cannot be hidden. The onshore gas industry is dangerous for the health of local people, risks permanent contamination and depletion of precious water sources, and will drive the climate emergency.”
Northern Territory Paediatrician Dr Louise Woodward, said
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