Queensland rejects Glencore’s CCS project

The Queensland government has rejected the proposal for Glencore’s CTSCo Surat Basin carbon capture and storage project in the Great Artesian Basin, citing the potential impact on groundwater resources. 

The department concluded the project could not proceed based on a thorough evaluation of its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This assessment, which took three years, was conducted under the regulatory frameworks of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019.

"The assessment found that the Precipice Sandstone aquifer in the Great Artesian Basin, where the project proposed to inject captured CO2 for storage, is not a confined aquifer, which is a strict requirement of the regulation," the department stated.

Additionally, the assessment indicated that injecting CO2 into the aquifer could cause the gas to migrate, potentially leading to irreversible or long-term changes in groundwater quality and environmental values. This includes the possible increase in concentrations of contaminants such as chloride, sulfate, salinity, various metals, and metalloids, including lead and arsenic.

Submissions on the EIS confirmed that the groundwater in the Precipice Sandstone is vital for agriculture, irrigation, and stock watering, underscoring its environmental significance.

"The department’s final decision on the EIS acknowledges the importance of the Great Artesian Basin to multiple stakeholders and makes it clear that other carbon capture and storage projects will not be viable in the Great Artesian Basin," the department concluded.