The A$3.6bn ($2.32bn) Narrabri gas project proposed by Santos has been given the go-ahead by an Australian tribunal, balancing the need for domestic energy supply against environmental and Indigenous heritage concerns.
The National Native Title Tribunal’s decision comes after a decade-long dispute over the granting of leases for Santos to drill up to 850 wells and extract coal-seam gas in north0west New South Wales, according to a Reuters report.
Approximately 70% of the project leases, spanning 95,000ha, are located south and west of Narrabri and overlap with the Pilliga region, a significant cultural landscape for the Gomeroi people.
Local Gomeroi opposition has centred around the project’s emissions and their impact on climate change, health, way of life and the land.
In its judgment, the tribunal acknowledged the serious climate concerns but highlighted the project’s role in energy security as a benefit for both the public and the Gomeroi people.
“Weighing the public interest evidence, including the evidence addressing environmental matters, the panel has found the project offers a net public benefit, particularly where conditions are imposed to address the environmental and social impacts,” the tribunal stated.
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By GlobalDataDespite the Gomeroi’s claim to exclusive native title rights over the area, Santos initially received approval for the leases in December 2022.
Following an appeal by the Gomeroi in January 2023, the Court of Australia overturned the decision in April 2024, leading to a reassessment of environmental concerns.
The tribunal has now stipulated that the leases can be granted on the condition that the gas produced is exclusively for domestic use, with additional cultural and environmental safeguards.
Santos is still awaiting planning approval for a pipeline connection to Australia’s east coast and expects to make a final investment decision by the end of the year.
NTSCorp, representing the Gomeroi traditional owners, has not commented on the tribunal’s ruling.
Recently, Santos announced its decision to defer plans for the Dorado oil and gas project in Western Australia, valued at more than A$3bn.
