Community group says Centurion LNG proposal is premature

Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland (EnvA) has called on the Queensland Government to refuse, or at least defer, approval of the proposed Centurion LNG Facility until the associated Centurion North Coal Development has completed its environmental assessment.

The proposed facility would capture incidental coal seam gas from the Centurion Coal Mine and convert it into liquefied natural gas (LNG) for commercial use.

While EnvA supports the capture and beneficial use of waste methane where appropriate, the organisation says the proposal relies heavily on gas expected to be generated by the proposed Centurion North Coal Development, which has not yet been approved under either State or Commonwealth assessment processes.

EnvA argues that approving the LNG facility now would effectively pre-empt the outcome of those ongoing environmental assessments.

EnvA Director Dr Coral Rowston said environmental approvals should occur in the proper sequence.

“We support sensible measures to reduce methane emissions, but this proposal cannot be separated from the coal mine expansion it is designed to service.

“The Centurion North Coal Development is still undergoing environmental assessment. Key issues, including groundwater impacts, biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions and cumulative impacts, have not yet been fully evaluated.

“Approving a gas project that depends on an unapproved mine expansion risks undermining the integrity of Queensland’s environmental assessment process.”

EnvA also notes that while the facility may reduce methane emissions at the mine site, it will still generate greenhouse gas emissions during its operation and the captured gas will ultimately be combusted elsewhere.

The organisation says the application has not demonstrated that the facility delivers an overall net climate benefit across its full lifecycle.

EnvA is calling on the Queensland Government to refuse the application or defer any decision until the Centurion North Coal Development has completed all required State and Commonwealth assessment processes.