Australian state halts Glencore’s carbon storage project over groundwater risk
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The Queensland state government voiced its opposition to Glencore’s proposed carbon capture and storage project, citing the potential for irreversible damage to the groundwater crucial for farmers’ livelihoods.
Environment department’s statement said that the project is “not suited to proceed due to potential impacts on groundwater resources”. It also added that similar projects would also be blocked.
The department said the groundwater is used for agriculture, irrigation, and stock watering.
Earlier, farm groups protested against the project because it risks poisoning part of the Great Artesian Basin, a network of groundwater deposits spanning much of eastern Australia.
Read more: Decision looms for Glencore’s carbon capture approval in Queensland amid environmental safety debate
The statement argued that the proposed site was not a contained aquifer, and the carbon dioxide could migrate, potentially causing irreversible or long-term damage to groundwater quality and environmental values if the project were to proceed.
Additionally, it could lead to greater concentrations of contaminants such as chloride, sulphate, salinity, and various metals and metalloids, including lead and arsenic.
The statement concludes with a firm stance, “The department’s final decision on the EIS underscores the significance of the Great Artesian Basin to multiple stakeholders and makes it unequivocally clear that other carbon capture and storage projects will not be viable in the Great Artesian Basin.”
The project aimed to pump 330,000 metric tons of liquified carbon dioxide into an aquifer 2.3 km underground. Glencore called their pilot project a test case for onshore carbon storage in the country.
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