Oil and gas company Santos is facing yet another setback in its plans to develop the $3.6 billion Narrabri gas project, after an Indigenous group filed an appeal to the Federal Court on a permit for the project, Reuters reports.
The long-delayed project is seen by the state government of New South Wales and energy authorities as essential to plugging a gas supply shortfall expected in the next two or three years.
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The National Native Title Tribunal in December permitted Santos to go ahead with the project, ruling that the benefits outweighed the Gomeroi traditional owners’ concerns that it would damage their culture, land and waters and contribute to climate change.
NTSCorp, representing the Gomeroi people, filed a notice of appeal to the Federal Court on January 13, court records show.
NTSCorp solicitor Mishka Holt was not immediately available to comment on the appeal.
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At full operation, the Narrabri project could supply more than half of the gas needs in New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, Santos has said.
The company had no immediate comment on the appeal.
