Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 4 April 2011:

With reference to the Browse Basin liquefied natural gas precinct proposed by Woodside and others for James Price Point, and the precinct's projected annual greenhouse gas emissions of 32 million tonnes per annum (equivalent to 6 per cent of Australia's current annual emissions for all sectors), should the precinct be developed to its full projected potential:

(1) What specific assurances have the proponents provided to the Government that all, or some, of the project's greenhouse gas emissions will be geosequestered, in other words, stored underground.

(2) What detailed research have the proponents provided to the Government to show that geosequestration will be feasible if the precinct is built at James Price Point.

(3) Given that one of the project partners, BHP Billiton, has expressed concerns that the seabed at Browse Basin is geologically unsuitable for geosequestration, what confidence does the Government have in Woodside's statements that geosequestration will be possible for greenhouse gas emissions from the proposed precinct.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) On 6 February 2008, the Australian Government signed an agreement with the then Western Australian (WA) Government to embark on a strategic assessment of a plan for a common-user liquefied natural gas (LNG) precinct to service the Browse Basin gas reserves.

The terms of reference for the assessment of the LNG precinct does not require the WA Government to specifically investigate geosequestration opportunities.

The draft Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) and Plan were released for public comment by the WA Department of State Development from 13 December 2010 to 28 March 2011. The draft assessment report has identified James Price Point as the preferred location for an LNG precinct.

The Government understands the WA Government expects to submit a final strategic assessment report and plan to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities for his consideration this year.

The draft SAR proposes that individual proponents who wish to establish LNG processing facilities will be required to submit and implement a greenhouse gas abatement plan (GGAP). The draft SAR proposes that GGAPs for individual LNG facilities will be required to evaluate the feasibility of a range of options to reduce greenhouse emissions, including geosequestration.

The current commercial proponent for the James Price Point LNG Precinct, Browse LNG Joint Venture, is still finalising planning and design for its area of the Precinct and is continuing to assess options for the handling of greenhouse gas emissions associated with its project.

(2) The Minister is not aware of any detailed research having been provided to the Government by the project proponent.

(3) The Government maintains close interest in geosequestration possibilities and will await the outcome of continuing work by proponents in this area.