Narrabri Gas Project – New South Wales
The Narrabri Gas Project, led by Santos, is a major coal seam gas development proposed for northwestern New South Wales. Valued at A$3.6 billion, the project would involve drilling up to 850 gas wells across 95,000 hectares near the town of Narrabri, tapping into the Gunnedah Basin to supply gas exclusively to the domestic market.
Approved by both the NSW Independent Planning Commission and the federal government in 2020, the project faced significant opposition from Traditional Owners and environmental groups.
In May 2025, the National Native Title Tribunal ruled in favour of granting the leases, stating that the benefits to energy reliability outweighed the objections raised by the Gomeroi people and conservationists.
With that decision, Santos now faces only a few final regulatory steps before construction can begin.
While the project is marketed as a domestic energy security measure, it has drawn fierce criticism over its potential environmental footprint.
Located in a region with critical groundwater systems and significant biodiversity, the Narrabri Gas Project has raised alarms about the risks to aquifers, farmlands, and native wildlife.
It is also seen as a symbolic litmus test for Australia’s climate commitments.
Though Santos claims emissions will be relatively modest compared to offshore LNG, environmentalists argue that any expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure undermines the nation’s goal of reaching net zero by 2050. Critics also point out that coal seam gas is associated with methane leakage—a potent greenhouse gas that exacerbates global warming.
Overview
- Owner/Operator: Santos Limited
- Location: Approximately 20 km southwest of Narrabri, in the Gunnedah Basin, northwest New South Wales
- Offshore Status: No – the project is entirely onshore and not connected to the Great Artesian Basin
- Project Value: A$3.6 billion
- Project Scope: The project involves drilling up to 850 coal seam gas wells across 95,000 hectares of farmland and native bushland. Gas will be extracted from coal seams 300 to 1,200 metres underground.
- Production Capacity: Not publicly finalised, but designed to supply a significant portion of NSW’s domestic gas demand
- Export vs. Domestic Use: All gas is committed to the domestic market, primarily for NSW energy supply
- Infrastructure: Includes a gas processing plant, water treatment facility, compression stations, and a pipeline connecting to the planned Hunter Gas Pipeline
- Project Timeline: Final Investment Decision expected in 2025
Regulatory and Legal Status
- Approvals to Date: The project received conditional approval from the NSW Independent Planning Commission in 2020 and federal environmental approval later the same year
- Recent Development: In May 2025, the National Native Title Tribunal ruled that leases for the project could be granted, finding that the benefits to energy reliability outweighed concerns raised by Traditional Owners and environmental groups
- What’s Left: With tribunal approval now secured, Santos faces only a few remaining regulatory steps before construction can commence
Environmental and Cultural Concerns
- Traditional Owner Opposition: The Gomeroi people have opposed the project on the grounds that it would damage sacred sites and contribute to climate change.
- Environmental Risks: Groups including Lock the Gate Alliance, the Wilderness Society, and Nature Conservation Council warn the project poses serious threats to water resources, biodiversity, and climate stability.
- Water Security: Opponents argue that extracting gas from coal seams can harm aquifers and cause long-term water contamination—critical issues in a region already affected by drought.
- Tribunal Ruling: Despite these objections, the Tribunal ruled that the energy security benefits of the project took precedence.
Company Information
- Santos Limited: One of Australia’s largest oil and gas producers. More details at narrabrigasproject.com.au
The Narrabri Gas Project is one of the most controversial fossil fuel proposals in NSW. While the government and company promote it as a solution to energy reliability, Traditional Owners and local environmentalists warn that it risks irreplaceable water systems, cultural heritage, and Australia’s climate commitments. With the Native Title Tribunal ruling in Santos’ favour, the project is now closer than ever to full approval.
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