NT Gas Industry Expansion Raises Concerns About Emissions Targets
A government-commissioned report has raised concerns about the Northern Territory's ability to meet its net zero emissions target by 2050 if it expands its gas industry. The report, which was obtained by the ABC, found that even without new projects, emissions from the NT's existing gas plants are expected to increase by 25 to 50%.
The report also found that if the Beetaloo Basin is developed and Darwin's LNG processing plants are expanded, NT emissions could potentially rise by 100% or even 150% above historical levels. This would make it very difficult for the NT to meet its net zero target.
The Environment Centre NT's director, Kirsty Howey, said it is unlikely that an increase of 100 to 150% could be neutralized by the gas industry. She said that the NT government is effectively asking the rest of Australia to decrease their emissions so that the NT can meet global net zero targets, while polluting to a level that has never been seen before in the NT.
Both the Labor and CLP parties have said that they can still develop new gas projects and meet net zero by 2050 targets. However, the government-commissioned report suggests that this may not be possible.
NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler is adamant that Labor can develop new gas projects and reduce emissions. She said that all of the companies at the Beetaloo have a net zero target, and that they will be describing and showing how they can get to net zero by 2050 as part of their environment management plans.
CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro said her party would also do both. She said that their targets are really important, and that's why they need to grow the territory's economy. She also said that they are really focused on making sure that territorians who are backing in rooftop solar will be rewarded, and that they will double the feed-in tariff during peak times.
NT director of industry body Energy Producers of Australia, David Slama, said emissions from new NT on and offshore gas projects could be fully dealt with using a planned Darwin carbon capture and storage facility, and other methods. He said that Santos and Inpex both have commitments in place, and that the carbon capture and storage will need to be part of their projects to be successful.
However, Ms. Howey said there is not yet any evidence that carbon capture and storage would work in the NT. She said that there is no way to carbon-dump our way out of the climate bomb that is the Beetaloo Basin, and that no amount of offsetting or climate dumping will remove that as the scenario.