Darwin carbon capture and storage project edges closer

Carbon capture and storage are vital in helping Australia meet its net zero targets, a NT Resources Week speaker says. Here’s how the conference is unfolding.

THE development of a carbon capture and storage facility in the Territory has moved closer with the Federal Government announcing it has reserved an acreage in the Bonaparte Gulf, about 300km south-west of Darwin.

Speaking at the opening session of NT Resources Week in Darwin on Wednesday morning, Federal Resources and Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King announced CCS acreages had been reserved in Bonaparte Gulf and in WA’s Browse Basin.

Viewed by policymakers and oil and gas producers as a potential saviour for carbon producing industries, INPEX, Woodside and TotalEnergies in conjunction with the CSIRO are looking to develop a carbon, capture and storage plant for gas projects in the Territory.

“Both areas provide significant opportunity for industries to decarbonise as well as provide new opportunities for job creation and economic development,” Minister King said.

“Awarding new permits will see a surge in effort around CCS. I want industry to convert this talk about CCS into action.

“Carbon capture and storage has a vital role to play to help Australia meet its net zero targets. Australia is ideally placed to become a world leader in this emerging industry, with large, stable offshore geological formations for greenhouse gas storage.

“Australia has the capacity to continue to be an energy export leader, at the same time as developing a domestic offshore carbon capture and storage industry. CCS is a safe, key proven technology that can support the petroleum sector in its low carbon transition.

It is the first time new offshore greenhouse gas storage areas have been released since 2014 and more are expected to be announced later this year.

NT GOVERNMENT MAKES MAJOR COMMITMENT

Opening NT Resources Week, Deputy Chief Minister and Mining and Industry Minister Nicole Manison said the Territory Government was committed to passing the 135 recommendations from the Pepper Inquiry into onshore gas development by the end of the year.

She said plans for CCS development off Darwin, Sun Cable’s AA PowerLink, Santos’ Borossa field offshore development and $800m re-investment into Darwin LNG as well as INPEX’ expansion plans will help underpin the Territory economy.

“These things along with Sun Cable and other solar plants and our investment in hydrogen research sets up Darwin as a global clean energy centre,” she said. “It gives huge impetus to our gas task force now working with the CSIRO, Inpex, Santos and other industry partners to develop a multi-user CCS plant in Middle Arm.

“Together, with substantial interest in green-hydrogen production, there are incredible things about to happen at Middle Arm. Things that once again confirm the growing role the Territory plays in powering the entire region.”

Ms Manison said work will begin this year on the long-awaited East Arm ship lift, will create more than 100 construction jobs and 400 jobs ongoing.

RESOURCES WEEK INSPIRES NEW TAKES ON OLD INDUSTRIES

The NT Resources Week is shaping as an illuminating mix of old and emerging technology.

Featuring three conferences, dozens of speakers and a far-reaching schedule, traditional mining and resource players will share their focus between delivering energy with strong environmental management and decarbonisation.

Underpinning NT Resources Week are the Mining the Territory Conference, the Environmental Management and Decarbonisation Forum and the SEAAOC Conference.

Resources Week begins with NT deputy chief minister Nicole Manison and Federal Resources and Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King outlining their respective governments’ vision for the sector following the ALP’s federal election win in May.

Commonwealth Bank mining and energy commodity strategist Vivek Dhar will deliver an economic and commodity outlook followed by panel discussions focusing on key issues including the Ukraine war and progress in decarbonisation.

Both days of Mining the Territory and EM&D forum commence simultaneously, with first speakers today up at 11.20am.

Dr Ian Scrimgeour, senior executive director at the NT Geological Survey, will focus on the Territory’s new exploration boom, trends and emerging opportunities.

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A number of Territory miners will update their company’s projects and prospects including Core Lithium, Glencore‘s McArthur River Mine, Newmont Mining’s Tanami gold mine, Arafura Resources, Castile Resources and Lucapa Diamond Company.

On day two, the program will focus on sacred site protection in the NT, overcoming skills shortages and the rush towards hydrogen.

At the EM&D forum, the Territory’s capacity to provide Australia and the world with resources to support green technologies will be on show with flagship projects such as Sun Cable’s AAPowerLink and Good Water Energy’s geothermal energy proposal outlining their plans.

Extending the Territory’s reach into south-east Asia, the South East Asia Australia Offshore and Onshore Conference (SEAAOC) begins with keynote speeches by Santos’ Brett Woods and INPEX’ Hitoshi Okawa followed by a discussion around the role of gas in a carbon constrained world.

Other key talking points include updates on Beetaloo and McArthur Basins, the future of hydrogen and helium and future development proposals for Middle Arm.

AUSTRALIA IN EXCELLENT POSITION: MICK SCRIVENS

One of the planned speakers, Black & Veatch vice president Mick Scrivens, will assert Australia is in an excellent position to capitalise on the emergence of green ammonia as an energy provider.

It is anticipated Middle Arm is likely to be home to green ammonia and green hydrogen technologies in the future.

“Australia is investing $1.4 billion to build a hydrogen industry,” Mr Scrivens said.

“Multiple projects – at various stages of development – have already been announced across the country including two in the Northern Territory, one at Tiwi Island and another inland, strategically located to existing pipelines, a power station and other infrastructure.

“Proximity to existing infrastructure, whether LNG infrastructure that could be adapted or existing transmission lines and substations, alongside some initial federal funding will prove critical factors improving these early projects’ economically feasibility.

“With ambitions that predict Australia supplying 13 per cent of global carbon-free ammonia by 2035, making it the world’s largest exporter, huge investment will be required to build and convert infrastructure for the hydrogen and ammonia production processes as well as many necessary upstream renewables and related export facilities.”