Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It was yesterday revealed a major gas facility in Darwin
has been leaking methane for nearly two decades, documents uncovered
by the ABC founder Santos owned LNG tank near Wickham
has been leaking methane since two thousand and six. Now
it's understood that Santos has not been forced to repair
(00:21):
or replace the tank, despite anti regulators reportedly learning of
that leak in twenty twenty hours after approving a proposal
to extend its operations to twenty fifty. Now, environment groups
are calling on the Albanezy government to step in amid
allegations of a gas industry cover up and systemic regulatory failure.
(00:42):
Joining us on the line is the Environment Center's executive director,
Kirsty Howie. Good morning to you, Kirsty, Good morning Katie,
Thanks so much for your time. Now can you talk
us through how this methane leak was identified.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, it's really it's very intruing and very troubling. But
essentially there were some reports back in two thousand and
six when it was first commissioned that there was a
leak of the big storage tank that you can see,
you know, if you're in Dawen Harbor. It's really visible,
and at that time it said it was quite a
minute and negligible leak, so we didn't hear anything else
(01:18):
about it for years. Then what seems to have happened
is when Santos was taking over those assets from Conoco Phillips,
they were doing drone monitoring as part of the due
diligence process, and they actually discovered that the leak was
not only still there, but it was far bigger than
(01:39):
had certainly been publicly reported and seemed to have been
known to the gas companies themselves. So we're talking. You know,
I think the estimate in there was one hundred and
eighty four kilograms of methane per hour, which is that
would be classified as a super emitter event under sort
of international regulations. It's a pretty huge leak, but they
(02:01):
didn't notify the regulator until after. As you say, that
approval of being given, which we think is deeply disturbing.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
What kind of damage do you believe this has done
to the environment.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Well, look, there's a few different angles to this. Of course,
there are the climate implications. Masaane is a very polluting
greenhouse gas. It's something like eighty times more harmful to
our climate than carbon dioxide. So this is a huge
leak of very large proportions that contributes to climate change.
(02:36):
But also we do know that it's not just masane
that is emitted from these facilities. There can be other
substances emitted, volatile organic compounds, things like benzene which can
be harmful to humans and troublingly, in the documents there's
also references and this certainly seemed to be a concern
(02:56):
of the Northern Territary regulators to a risk of an
explosion is a thing called a blevy, which is a
boiling liquid vapor explosion, and that is referenced in the documents.
Whether or not that is, you know, a serious risk,
is unclear, but it's certainly something that is identified as
(03:17):
a risk in the documents and indeed in Santos' and
Comoncos Philip's own emergency response plans.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Now I know, Santos have released a statement. They've said
that the DLNG LNG storage tank operated safely for eighteen
years up to the Darwen Life Extension Project shut down,
and that it's regulated by nt works safe and operates
under an approved safety case. They say that during the
Darwin Life Extension Project that Santos and independent third party
(03:47):
experts conducted a comprehensive inspection program of that tank and
confirmed that it remains fit and safe for service for
the life of the Barossa gas projects. They wreck all
the project and that all regulatory approvals are in place
and an ongoing monitoring program is in place as well.
(04:07):
I mean, what do you say to that.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Look, it's unsurprising that the gas company would say this,
that Santos would say that. What we would say is
this has been covered up from the public. This is
something that should have been disclosed. What we have seen
is multiple regulators, every man and his dog in government
(04:30):
at a Northern territory and commonwealth level seems to have
known about this, but they haven't seen fit to inform
the public, even though there are significant risks. So we
think that there has been a cover up. That this
does show a troubling kind of closeness between the gas
industry and government regulators who are supposed to help and
protect our climate, health and safety and the environment as well.
(04:55):
And it is a scandal that requires intervention. We can't
just the gas companies at their word. This has been
covered up by the pub from the public. It's been
covered up for a reason, and we think the solution simple,
just fix the leak, fix it and the problem will
be solved. And we don't understand why they can't do that.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
So what are you calling for the Northern Territory and
the federal government to do at this point in time.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Well, look, there is one further approval remaining for Darwen LNG.
It's due in a couple of weeks time. The nt
EPA needs to renew the Darwen LNG license and we
think this is the perfect opportunity for the EPA to
show some regulatory muscle, which they've failed to do in
(05:41):
the past, and require Santos to fix the leak. So
that's the first thing. The second thing is we do
need the Albanezy government to investigate how this has happened,
how this has been disclosed to multiple regulators, and no
one has taken action, from the CSIRO to the Clean
Energy Regulation that it's supposed to regulate climate pollution, to
(06:03):
not seeing they the offsual gas regulator. Everyone knew and
no one protected the people of Darwin and the climate
of Darwen. They all acted in Santos's interests so we're
asking for action to be taken.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Why do you reckon that.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Is, why do you think that they've acted in the
interests of Santos and not the public?
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Yeah, or why do you think they've not notified the
public or you know, or not sort of taken some
further steps.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Look, I've been in this game for a long time now,
and unfortunately this is something that we do see happen
here in the Northern Territory. There is a closeness between
regulators and governments and big business, and often it's the
environment and communities that are put at risk. You know,
(06:51):
we see it not just here, but we see it
with the illegal construction of fuel tanks in Darwin Harbor,
pollution caused by fracking in the Bedloo Back, illegal land clearing,
and it's really disappointing that it falls on the community
to raise these concerns, to uncover what's happening, to act
as a watchdog when regulators have failed, and they've really
(07:12):
got to smart en up. If we want to develop
the North, if we want to see new industry, if
we want to see jobs, then regulators and government have
to do their job and hold industry accountable and protect
the health of Darwin people and our precious environment that
we all love.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Well. Environment Center Into Executive Director, Kirsty Howie, really appreciate
your time this morning. Thank you for having a chat
with us.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Thanks so much, Katie appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Thank you,
It was yesterday revealed a major gas facility in Darwin
has been leaking methane for nearly two decades, documents uncovered
by the ABC founder Santos owned LNG tank near Wickham
has been leaking methane since two thousand and six. Now
it's understood that Santos has not been forced to repair
(00:21):
or replace the tank, despite anti regulators reportedly learning of
that leak in twenty twenty hours after approving a proposal
to extend its operations to twenty fifty. Now, environment groups
are calling on the Albanezy government to step in amid
allegations of a gas industry cover up and systemic regulatory failure.
(00:42):
Joining us on the line is the Environment Center's executive director,
Kirsty Howie. Good morning to you, Kirsty, Good morning Katie,
Thanks so much for your time. Now can you talk
us through how this methane leak was identified.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, it's really it's very intruing and very troubling. But
essentially there were some reports back in two thousand and
six when it was first commissioned that there was a
leak of the big storage tank that you can see,
you know, if you're in Dawen Harbor. It's really visible,
and at that time it said it was quite a
minute and negligible leak, so we didn't hear anything else
(01:18):
about it for years. Then what seems to have happened
is when Santos was taking over those assets from Conoco Phillips,
they were doing drone monitoring as part of the due
diligence process, and they actually discovered that the leak was
not only still there, but it was far bigger than
(01:39):
had certainly been publicly reported and seemed to have been
known to the gas companies themselves. So we're talking. You know,
I think the estimate in there was one hundred and
eighty four kilograms of methane per hour, which is that
would be classified as a super emitter event under sort
of international regulations. It's a pretty huge leak, but they
(02:01):
didn't notify the regulator until after. As you say, that
approval of being given, which we think is deeply disturbing.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
What kind of damage do you believe this has done
to the environment.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Well, look, there's a few different angles to this. Of course,
there are the climate implications. Masaane is a very polluting
greenhouse gas. It's something like eighty times more harmful to
our climate than carbon dioxide. So this is a huge
leak of very large proportions that contributes to climate change.
(02:36):
But also we do know that it's not just masane
that is emitted from these facilities. There can be other
substances emitted, volatile organic compounds, things like benzene which can
be harmful to humans and troublingly, in the documents there's
also references and this certainly seemed to be a concern
(02:56):
of the Northern Territary regulators to a risk of an
explosion is a thing called a blevy, which is a
boiling liquid vapor explosion, and that is referenced in the documents.
Whether or not that is, you know, a serious risk,
is unclear, but it's certainly something that is identified as
(03:17):
a risk in the documents and indeed in Santos' and
Comoncos Philip's own emergency response plans.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Now I know, Santos have released a statement. They've said
that the DLNG LNG storage tank operated safely for eighteen
years up to the Darwen Life Extension Project shut down,
and that it's regulated by nt works safe and operates
under an approved safety case. They say that during the
Darwin Life Extension Project that Santos and independent third party
(03:47):
experts conducted a comprehensive inspection program of that tank and
confirmed that it remains fit and safe for service for
the life of the Barossa gas projects. They wreck all
the project and that all regulatory approvals are in place
and an ongoing monitoring program is in place as well.
(04:07):
I mean, what do you say to that.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Look, it's unsurprising that the gas company would say this,
that Santos would say that. What we would say is
this has been covered up from the public. This is
something that should have been disclosed. What we have seen
is multiple regulators, every man and his dog in government
(04:30):
at a Northern territory and commonwealth level seems to have
known about this, but they haven't seen fit to inform
the public, even though there are significant risks. So we
think that there has been a cover up. That this
does show a troubling kind of closeness between the gas
industry and government regulators who are supposed to help and
protect our climate, health and safety and the environment as well.
(04:55):
And it is a scandal that requires intervention. We can't
just the gas companies at their word. This has been
covered up by the pub from the public. It's been
covered up for a reason, and we think the solution simple,
just fix the leak, fix it and the problem will
be solved. And we don't understand why they can't do that.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
So what are you calling for the Northern Territory and
the federal government to do at this point in time.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Well, look, there is one further approval remaining for Darwen LNG.
It's due in a couple of weeks time. The nt
EPA needs to renew the Darwen LNG license and we
think this is the perfect opportunity for the EPA to
show some regulatory muscle, which they've failed to do in
(05:41):
the past, and require Santos to fix the leak. So
that's the first thing. The second thing is we do
need the Albanezy government to investigate how this has happened,
how this has been disclosed to multiple regulators, and no
one has taken action, from the CSIRO to the Clean
Energy Regulation that it's supposed to regulate climate pollution, to
(06:03):
not seeing they the offsual gas regulator. Everyone knew and
no one protected the people of Darwin and the climate
of Darwen. They all acted in Santos's interests so we're
asking for action to be taken.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Why do you reckon that.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Is, why do you think that they've acted in the
interests of Santos and not the public?
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Yeah, or why do you think they've not notified the
public or you know, or not sort of taken some
further steps.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Look, I've been in this game for a long time now,
and unfortunately this is something that we do see happen
here in the Northern Territory. There is a closeness between
regulators and governments and big business, and often it's the
environment and communities that are put at risk. You know,
(06:51):
we see it not just here, but we see it
with the illegal construction of fuel tanks in Darwin Harbor,
pollution caused by fracking in the Bedloo Back, illegal land clearing,
and it's really disappointing that it falls on the community
to raise these concerns, to uncover what's happening, to act
as a watchdog when regulators have failed, and they've really
(07:12):
got to smart en up. If we want to develop
the North, if we want to see new industry, if
we want to see jobs, then regulators and government have
to do their job and hold industry accountable and protect
the health of Darwin people and our precious environment that
we all love.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Well. Environment Center Into Executive Director, Kirsty Howie, really appreciate
your time this morning. Thank you for having a chat
with us.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Thanks so much, Katie appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Thank you,
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