Proposed Surat Basin Carbon Capture and Storage Project—Draft terms of reference
Department of Environment and Science
Public Notice
Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) – Section 42
Draft terms of reference for an environmental impact statement (EIS)
Proposed Surat Basin Carbon Capture and Storage Project
Carbon Transport and Storage Corporation Pty Limited (CTSCo) proposes to develop the Surat Basin Carbon Capture and Storage Project to demonstrate the effective permanent storage of captured CO2 over a five-year life of project. The proposed project area would be within an area of approximately four hectares covered by greenhouse gas (GHG) exploration permit EPQ10, and located approximately 44 kilometres (km) south west of the township of Moonie in the Western Downs Regional Council area of southern Queensland.
CTSCo proposes to transport the GHG stream (CO2) sourced from the Millmerran Power Station 260kms to the proposed project site for permanent injection and storage underground. Key components of the proposed project include transportation of the GHG stream by truck as a cryogenic liquid; offloading the GHG stream to a transportation facility and converting the GHG stream from a cryogenic liquid to a supercritical fluid; transporting the GHG stream 9km via a flowline to an existing injection well; injecting the GHG stream 2.3km beneath the surface into an aquifer over a three-year period; and monitoring the GHG stream over the three-year injection period, and for two years after the injection period has ceased.
On 10 September 2021, CTSCo was provided a Notice of Decision by the Department of Environment and Science (the department) that the proposed project is required to be assessed by the EIS process under the Environment Protection Act 1994.
On 9 February 2022, the proposed project was determined not to be a controlled action (2021/9122) under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
On 14 March 2022, CTSCo submitted the draft terms of reference (TOR) for an EIS for the proposal to the department.
The draft TOR, written comments template and an initial advice statement describing the project is available on the Queensland Government website.
Written comments
The department’s chief executive invites written comments from any person in relation to the draft TOR, within the comment period from 6 April 2022 to close of business 23 May 2022.
Please address written comments to:
The Chief Executive
Department of Environment and Science
Attention: The EIS Coordinator - (Surat Basin Carbon Capture and Storage Project)
GPO Box 2454
BRISBANE QLD 4001
or by email to eis@des.qld.gov.au
Privacy statement
The department is collecting the information provided in comments for consideration in the EIS process. All comments (including names and addresses) will be provided to the proponent as required under section 44 of the EP Act, so that they may consider them and provide a response to the department. This consultation is a public process, and any comments you provide may be published (including online) and may be transmitted outside of Australia. You may wish to bear this in mind when providing your comments. Your information will not be disclosed by the department to any other parties unless authorised or required by law.
When the EIS is released, public submissions will be invited. For further information about the EIS process for this proposal, contact the EIS coordinator on 13QGOV (13 74 68) or email eis@des.qld.gov.au