NT EPA launches probe after Inpex admits to under-reporting toxic emissions from Darwin LNG plant
Environmental regulators are investigating a gas plant just 10km from Darwin City after it revealed potentially cancer-causing pollutants have gone under-reported for years.
The environmental regulator is urgently investigating a major liquefied natural gas processing facility in the Northern Territory that has admitted to under-reporting emissions of cancer causing pollutants for seven years.
Inpex’s Ichthys LNG plant, located just 10km from Darwin City, confirmed it had “identified errors in the way some emissions” had been calculated since it opened in 2018 – including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene.
All of the compounds are toxic to humans and benzene is a known carcinogen linked to leukaemia, also emitted from sources such as car exhausts and tobacco smoke.
However, an indepenent report commisioned by Inpex authored by Dr Penelope Gillett found
“very low” acute, short term and long term health risks to the community, including vulnerable groups.
Inpex first identified potential discrepancies in its numbers last year, but only notified the NT Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) last week after confirming the misreporting via a third party consultancy.
It is not the first time the company’s emissions have drawn scrutiny. Last year Inpex came under fire after it reported emitting 22 times more VOCs at Ichthys than originally estimated in its 2008 environmental impact statement.
Recent scandals in the Territory have also exposed a 20-year methane leak at Santos’ gas export hub, and leaking US military fuel tanks in Darwin harbour not built to withstand a category 3 cyclone.
Environment Centre NT has railed at the reports, demanding a public briefing from NT EPA officials to explain how Inpex’s under-reporting could happen on their watch.
“Enough’s enough. The health of the people of Darwin is at stake, and the gas industry is the
culprit,” ECNT director Kirsty Howey said.
“We have no faith at all in Territory regulators. We need the Albanese government to step in and investigate this rolling series of disasters before it’s too late.”
In a statement the NT EPA said it had initiated an immediate investigation to identify any risks and determine if regulatory action was required, working in collaboration with the chief health officer.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro threw her support behind the environmental watchdog, and said the fact the miscalculations came to light “shows the self-reporting system works”.
“Our regulatory frameworks are very strong and robust, and we need to make sure that the EPA has the opportunity to do their really important work, and we have full confidence in them to do that,” Mrs Finocchiaro told ABC Darwin.
“While there’s no information we have that suggests anyone should be alarmed, we do need the EPA and Inpex to be working together to make sure this is thoroughly looked at.”
Inpex will brief the NT EPA on the issue at its board meeting on Wednesday.
Inpex Australia senior vice president Bill Townsend told the NT News there was no risk to Territorians from the revised levels of pollutants, which he said remained “below government guidelines”.
“We’ve identified some calculation errors in our emissions reporting, and while the implications are limited, we take this matter very seriously,” Mr Townsend said.
“Importantly, we can confirm there are no community health impacts resulting from these miscalculations.
“We sincerely apologise for the oversight. We understand the importance of maintaining public trust, and we’re committed to doing so through openness, accountability and clear communication.”
Mr Townsend said corrected FY24 reports would be submitted to national regulators by the end of the month.
Inpex was also scouting locations to install three additional air quality monitoring stations.
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