Environmental management plan approved for Empire Energy’s Carpentaria Pilot Project

A drilling project in the heart of the territory will ‘put downward pressure’ on energy prices – but one environmental group says the project’s approval ‘doesn’t pass the pub test’. Find out why.

Empire Energy's Carpentaria 2 site

A controversial gas project in the heart of the Northern Territory has been given the green light by the government.

On Friday, Empire Energy’s environmental management plan for the company’s Carpentaria Pilot Project was given the green light by the Northern Territory government – a move which has drawn criticism from environmental groups and local traditional owners.

With government approval, Empire Energy will now be able to conduct drilling and “hydraulic fracture stimulation” in nine new wells, a move which will “provide much needed gas supply for the people of the Northern Territory”, Empire Energy chief executive Alex Underwood said.

Empire Energy chief executive Alex Underwood

“This regulatory approval aligns with the NT Government’s support for Empire and the development of the broader Beetaloo Basin, which is expected to create thousands of jobs, put downward pressure on energy prices across the NT and eastern Australia, and has the potential to drive a resurgence of manufacturing in the Northern Territory,” he said.

Drilling is expected to commence “imminently” at Carpentria-5H, according to a statement put out by Empire Energy.

In July, Empire Energy signed an agreement with the Territory government to supply gas to the Territory until 2035 – with the possibility of a five-year extension – through the McArthur River Pipeline.

Ensign #965 on site Carpentaria-5H. Picture: Empire Energy

However, local traditional owners such as Wuyaliya man Asman Rory – who is also a cultural lawman – said “we have not given our consent” to the project.

“For consent you need proper consultation and a decision and we haven’t had a chance to have a discussion among ourselves yet,” he said.

Meetings with traditional owners – set to be facilitated by the Northern Land Council – are set to take place in order to decide if gas can be sold.

The meeting is part of the stakeholder consultation process under the Beneficial Use of Test Gas provision, under the NT Petroleum Act.

Regulatory approval under the NT Petroleum Act was the “last major approval required” for Empire Energy to sell gas drilled at the Carpentaria Pilot Project, the company’s statement said.

Arid Lands Environment Centre spokesperson Hannah Ekin said the environmental management plan shouldn’t have been approved due to Empire Energy’s reported breaches.

Arid Lands Environment Centre fracking campaigner Hannah Ekin at a Central Australian Frack Free Alliance anti-fracking gathering in Alice Springs in July.

In June, the ABC reported Empire Energy did not tell the NT Heritage regulator it found Indigenous stone tools at Balbirini 3 in August 2022.

Responding to allegations the tools had been moved in a statement at the time, Empire Energy said some traditional owners moved the tools “under their own initiative”.