Darwin LNG Methane Leak Management

ongoing

A long-running methane leak at Santos' Darwin LNG project has been disclosed, raising environmental and regulatory concerns. The leak, detected in 2019 but not promptly reported, involves methane emissions estimated at up to 184 kilograms per hour. The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority's environmental protection licence for Darwin LNG is due to expire on September 18, 2025, and delays in renewal could impact LNG exports and the start-up of the $6.1 billion Barossa gas project. The situation has led to allegations of a cover-up and systemic regulatory failure, with potential costly and risky actions required to fix the leak or manage emissions under regulatory mechanisms.