Northern Territory Allows Fracking

[Marina Schwarz + 1,576]

Australia's poorest and least populated state has lifted a two-year ban on fracking saying a study of the environmental impact of the extraction method suggests this impact can be "managed" with strict regulation. There are just a 250,000 people living in the NT, did you know? Most of them I guess indigenous peoples. Australia's gas problem is really serious, it seems and the NT sounds like a good place to contribute to the solution.

[Petar + 76]

Haven't they heard? Saudi Arabia is producing solar power, they know the oil era is over. Australia is late in the game.

[franco + 96]

I’ve been told by the best climate scientists in the world that fossil fuels cause global warming, so best to leave NT gas where it currently is - underground

[Rodent + 1,424]

6 hours ago, franco said:

I’ve been told by the best climate scientists in the world that fossil fuels cause global warming, so best to leave NT gas where it currently is - underground

Sounds like they don't have much of a choice. With rising nat gas prices, exports are on the rise. Meanwhile its population is paying through the nose for gas. It is adding capacity but it will be insufficient to meet rising demand--so prices will continue to rise. They did a years long study. The result was that regulated fracking is acceptable. Who are we to argue? 

[DanilKa + 443]

there will be no activity till 2019. Gunner gov taking time till Jul-18 to draft legislation including all 135 recommendations of "fracking" inquiry, including most bizarre one like "no net lifetime GHG increase from the Territory".

NT is producing more gas than its scarce population of ~250K require. Offshore gas is chilled to LNG in Darwin (at capacity) and land goes to Alice Springs etc. Pipeline to connect to East Coast where gas is in shortage is under construction by JEMENA. It will only be 90TJ/day; up to 150 with compression - may be enough to get NT shale gas industry started but not enough to solve East Coast issues.

It will be a long journey.

Central point of Beetaloo basin - http://dalywaterspub.com/ "Angle parking only. Any angle, mate"