We are disappointed in another timid decision by the South Korean court about environmental cases. The South Korean court has always been very cautious about environmental cases and cross-border issues. The ball is now in the court of Australian regulatory bodies, said Ha Jiyeon, a Seoul-based lawyer with a climate group familiar with the case.
The KEXIM told Reuters that they plan to review various factors such as the need for LNG imports as well as environmental factors to support the project.
K-Sure was not immediately available for comment.
The indigenous groups had said they were not properly consulted on the planned 260 km pipeline that connects offshore gas facilities to an existing pipeline that runs to Darwin.
Loans and loan guarantees could be worth around US $700 million, according to KEXIM and K-Sure.
Australia's Santos, operator of Barossa Development, will produce first gas in 2025, won't make a statement on the case. Partners include the private South Korean energy company SK E&S.