Activists condemn major government deal to buy gas from Beetaloo

Activists have skewered a government deal to secure fracked gas from Beetaloo as ‘disgraceful and risky’, raising questions about the integrity of the project’s approval.

TOs and environmentalists have condemned the NT government for inking a deal with US gas company Tamboran.

Environmentalists have condemned the Northern Territory government for inking a deal with US gas company Tamboran Resources to supply fracked gas from the Beetaloo Basin for at least nine years.

It comes amid calls from environmental and community groups for the project to be assessed under the federal water trigger, after the laws were expanded in December to include fracking projects.

On the other hand, the Northern Land Council, which is the only prescribed body responsible for representing the Traditional Owners of the region in which Tamboran operates under the Native Title Act, has been vocal in its support for development of the Beetaloo Basin.

Tamboran is yet to reach final investment decision for Beetaloo, and the Environment Centre NT argued government support at this stage raised questions of integrity.

“This is a disgraceful and risky deal,” director Kirsty Howey said.

Kirsty Howey from the Environment Centre NT accused the government of propping up a carbon bomb. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Tamboran’s Shenandoah project is not even approved, calling into question the independence and integrity of current assessment processes.

“The NT government’s shoddy gas-reliant energy system is entirely a product of its own making, including a famously disastrous deal with ENI to supply gas which has utterly failed to deliver.”

Ms Howey called for the government to invest in renewables to shore up energy supply, rather than “shackling our economy” to gas which “should have been jettisoned years ago”.

Speaking at the Tamboran announcement on Tuesday, Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the government remained committed to its emissions reduction target.

She said Treasury was considering the option to buy back stranded solar farms from ENI, but, even if the solar assets were 100 per cent operational, gas would still be required in the Territory.

Tamboran Resources Chief Executive Joel Riddle and Chief Minister Eva Lawler. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We do want to make sure that we have both options, because we want to make sure we get to that 50 per cent renewables target but we also need gas to power our electricity across the Northern Territory,” Ms Lawler said.

“Obviously our gas sales agreement provides benefits to Tamboran around those negotiations that they have overseas (seeking) funding for their projects, but we will continue to work through the usual processes that we have and for them to get to FID.”

Tamboran chief executive Joel Riddle said the Territory’s previous inquiries and two-year moratorium on fracking allowed “genuinely world class” regulations to be developed.

“I think that gives the community a lot of comfort around safety as it relates to water,” Mr Riddle said.

Tamboran previously told the NT News expanded federal water trigger laws would not impact its Beetaloo activities, as they merely duplicated existing Territory approvals.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek last month said she was investigating whether all companies operating in the Beetaloo were complying with the water trigger laws.

Central Australian Frack Free Alliance spokeswoman Hannah Ekin said the federal government was “missing in action in the Beetaloo Basin on water protection and rising greenhouse gas emissions”.

“Sadly, it’s the NT and the communities who live here who will suffer the consequences if the Albanese Government fails to act.”