Opposition unites against carbon capture and storage

Opposition has united against a plan to use the Great Artesian Basin as a carbon capture and storage vessel. Swiss multinational Glencore was given approval by the former Federal LNP Government to inject carbon dioxide from a coal-fired power station into one of the Great Artesian Basin’s aquifers. It was highlighted recently by Member for Kennedy Bob Katter who noted the combined opposition of both Agforce and the National Farmers Federation. Related: Katter takes on Glencore over carbon capture project Farm lobby groups combined with conservationists and local councils in a meeting with Premier Steven Miles calling for a ban to protect the Great Artesian Basin from carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The groups fear the projects would put at risk the Great Artesian Basin, which is the underground water resource and lifeblood of much of Queensland beyond the Great Dividing Range. The delegation, including the Queensland Farmers' Federation (QFF), Queensland Conservation Council and the Local Government Association of Queensland, have been united in their call to reject a proposed CCS project planned for the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) and for regulations to be put in place to stop future CCS proposals into water aquifers. Related: Glencore lays out emission reduction goals One current proposal from the Carbon Transport and Storage Corporation (CTSCo) would see carbon dioxide captured from Millmerran Power Station injected into the Great Artesian Basin near Moonie. Glencore has recently said the CTSCo carbon capture and storage project is based on robust scientific fieldwork, data and analysis and critics have not cited any data or evidence to support their concerns. “Our project has been reviewed by expert third-party institutions, including the Australian Government Independent Expert Scientific Committee (IESC), the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA) and CSIRO,” the company said. “The robust scientific data we’ve compiled provides us with very high confidence that the food grade CO2 injected deep underground will not impact the regional agricultural sector. “The injected CO2 would form a plume that will stay in proximity to the injection point and water quality outside this plume is unlikely to change in any way. “Within the plume, the pH levels are expected to reduce to a minimum of 4 – which is equivalent to the pH levels of black coffee or tomato juice.” Related: Understanding carbon capture and storage The move could contaminate domestic water and other supplies said Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith. “As such, councils want the Federal and State Government to adopt a precautionary approach and not allow carbon capture and storage projects to be approved in the Great Artesian Basin’ Ms Smith said. “This is of particular importance as several regional council organisations use GAB bores for their potable water source.” The Great Artesian Basin was one of the largest underground freshwater resources in the world generating approximately $13 billion in value to the national economy every year, providing a vital resource for 180,000 people, 7,600 businesses and 120 towns said QFF chief executive officer Jo Sheppard. "In 30 years of industry development and advocacy work, I have never seen community and industry so unified and come together like they have on this issue. The concern and opposition is overwhelming," said Ms Sheppard. The Great Artesian Basin was vital for the plants, animals and communities of regional Queensland said Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman. “The Basin is a vital water supply for graziers and local communities, one of the largest groundwater systems in the world and the lifeblood of most of the rivers of inland Australia,” Mr Copeman said. Councils at the most recent Local Government Association of Queensland annual conference voted unanimously to call on the State Government not to approve carbon capture and storage technology on the Great Artesian Basin.

Opposition unites against carbon capture and storage

Industry Queensland

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