The Northern Territory’s environmental regulator has commenced legal proceedings against Japanese energy giant Inpex for allegedly under-reporting emissions from its Ichthys LNG plant near Darwin.
Related article: Northern Territory commits land to gas-backed data centre
The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority alleges Inpex under-reported benzene and toluene emissions between 2019 and 2024.
Territory Minister for Lands, Planning, and Environment Joshua Burgoyne said in a statement, “I have been informed that the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority, as an independent statutory regulator responsible for administering and enforcing environmental laws, has commenced legal proceedings in relation to alleged under-reporting of emissions by Ichthys LNG Pty Ltd.
“As the matter is now before the courts, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specific allegations or the legal proceedings.
“The investigation that led to the decision to prosecute is part of a suite of regulatory responses to address Inpex’s under reporting and broader management of hydrocarbon activities in Darwin Harbour including the NT EPA’s announcement last week recommending strengthening licence terms and conditions of LNG facilities to ensure human health risks from air emissions are adequately addressed.
“Additionally, in response to community expectations for greater transparency around industrial emissions, we are progressing legislation to establish an air quality monitoring scheme that will provide Territorians more accessible information on air quality and emissions in the Darwin region.
“The decision by the NTEPA shows our regulator is working appropriately, to protect the environment and the broader community of the NT.”
Related article: Darwin LNG methane leak sinks Santos takeover deal
