The Queensland state government in Australia has blocked a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project proposed by global commodities giant Glencore, citing the risk of irreversible harm to the groundwater resources used by farmers.
Glencore’s pilot project aimed to pump 330,000 metric tons of liquefied carbon dioxide from a coal-fired power plant in southern Queensland into an aquifer 2.3 km (1.4 miles) underground. However, the state’s environment department has ruled that the project “is not suitable to proceed due to potential impacts on groundwater resources.”
The proposed site was located within the Great Artesian Basin, a vast network of groundwater deposits spanning much of eastern Australia that supports agriculture and communities. The environment department noted that the aquifer was not a contained system, and the carbon dioxide could migrate, potentially causing long-term changes to groundwater quality and environmental values.
Concerns were raised by farm groups that the project could lead to increased concentrations of contaminants such as chloride, sulfate, lead, and arsenic in the groundwater. The state government’s decision has effectively blocked not just Glencore’s project, but also signaled that similar carbon storage projects in the Great Artesian Basin would not be viable.
Glencore has criticized the decision, stating that it was the result of “misinformation and political opportunism” and had effectively outlawed carbon capture and storage projects in the state. However, the Queensland government has prioritized the protection of the critical groundwater resources used by the agricultural sector over the company’s carbon capture plans.
This decision highlights the growing tensions between the need for carbon reduction technologies and the potential environmental impacts on local communities and resources. As countries work to address climate change, careful consideration of the trade-offs and potential risks to sensitive ecosystems will be crucial in determining the appropriate paths forward for carbon capture and storage projects.