Barossa Gas Project: Santos wins federal environmental approval for 100km stretch of pipeline

Santos has received the federal government’s go-ahead to lay a new section of pipeline connecting the Barossa offshore gas field to Darwin, in a major milestone for the project.

Santos has received a green light from the federal government to lay a new section of pipeline connecting the Barossa offshore gas field to Darwin.

It is a major milestone for the energy giant’s Darwin Pipeline Duplication (DPD) project, after winning approval from the Northern Territory government in January and defeating a high-profile court challenge by a group of Tiwi Traditional Owners.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approved the 100km stretch of pipeline to run parallel to the existing Bayu-Undan pipeline, subject to conditions under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

“The Albanese Government has to make decisions in accordance with the facts and the national environment law – that’s what happens on every project, and that’s what’s happened here,” Ms Plibersek said.

“The Government will continue to consider each project on a case-by-case basis, under the law.”

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approved Santos’ Darwin Pipeline Duplication project. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The DPD will connect the Barossa Gas Export Pipeline to the existing Darwin LNG facility at Wickham Point.

Ms Plibersek’s approval covers the DPD pipeline only – the Barossa project is subject to separate approval by the government’s independent regulator, National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), first granted in 2018.

The DPD was not included in Santos’ original plans, with the company now proposing to repurpose its Bayu-Undan pipeline for transporting CO2 back into the depleted gas field as part of a possible carbon capture project.

Santos believes up to 10 million tonnes of CO2 could be stored in Bayu-Undan each year, but some environmental groups have accused the company of delaying its obligations for a costly clean-up of the depleted field.

Santos proposed DPD pipeline connects Darwin LNG with the Barossa Gas Export Pipeline.

Barossa is expected to produce 276 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions over its lifespan, according to the NT EPAs assessment report.

The Environmental Defenders Office on behalf of Tiwi Islanders launched an unsuccessful challenge against the Gas Export Pipeline, claiming it would damage Sea Country, Dreaming tracks, Songlines and areas of cultural significance including burial sites and animal habitats.

Federal court judge Natalie Charlesworth dismissed the case, handing down a scathing assessment the EDO lied to Tiwi Islanders.

Ms Plibersek earlier this month welcomed a review into the community legal service over the matter.