Leaked letter reveals regulator's 'concerns' about gas giant Santos
Australia's second-largest oil and gas company, Santos, has been issued a warning by the national regulator following inspections of its multi-billion-dollar Barossa project.
The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has expressed concerns about Santos, a gas giant, continuing to non-comply with regulations at its multi-billion-dollar Barossa project. The regulator issued a warning after inspections revealed issues with fuel management, flaring, and ineffective management of environmentally relevant equipment.
These problems could lead to higher than expected emissions and pollution levels. A Santos spokesperson stated that the company has engaged with NOPSEMA to develop a forward plan, but the regulator maintains that Santos has not addressed the issues, several months after initial warnings. Both fuel use and flaring were found to be above estimates outlined in Santos' environment plan during the inspections.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific criticized Santos for continuing business as usual despite repeated warnings. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis suggested that Santos may be dealing with unanticipated operational issues, resulting in higher emissions and pollution than forecast. NOPSEMA expects Santos to provide details of the steps taken to fix the issues and undergo a review of its environment plan, with another inspection planned for the third quarter of 2026.
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