The incident adds to serious doubts about whether Australia can meet its commitment<\/a> to reduce emissions of methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas. <\/p>\n The vital pledge will only be met if governments and industry prioritise climate action and human health over profits.<\/p>\n ConocoPhillips discovered the emissions were far greater than initially thought. Pictured: ConocoPhillips Chief Economist Helen Currie at a conference in Brisbane in May this year. What happened in Darwin?<\/p>\n The Darwin case demonstrates dangers of relying on industry to assess and manage risks to the climate and human health. <\/p>\n The leak involved an enormous above-ground tank which contained highly processed methane derived from LNG (liquified natural gas). <\/p>\n According to the ABC<\/a>, the leak was caused by a design flaw. The reports said the tank\u2019s original owner, ConocoPhillips, discovered the leak in 2006 and reported it to the Northern Territory\u2019s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), describing the emissions as \u201cminute\u201d. The tank held gas for the next 18 years.<\/p>\n Two measurements using drone technology, in 2019 and 2020, reportedly indicated the leak was bigger than initially thought \u2013 up to 184 kilograms of methane was leaking per hour. This was not reported to the EPA until months later, according to the ABC.<\/p>\n Gas giant Santos now operates the tank, which is now reportedly empty. But it\u2019s set to be filled again, as part of Santos\u2019 Barossa gas project.<\/p>\n The ABC says state and federal regulators have not forced Santos to repair or replace the tank, adding:<\/p>\n They and the company say the leak is stable, and poses a moderate climate risk but no immediate threat to the public or the environment.<\/p>\n Santos told the ABC regulatory approvals and an ongoing monitoring program were in place, and the company reports its greenhouse gas emissions annually.<\/p>\n The leaking tank will be refilled for Santos\u2019 Barossa gas field project. Pictured: workers at a Santos supplier inspecting equipment. Methane: a major climate culprit<\/p>\n Methane is a dangerous greenhouse gas which drives about 30% of global warming<\/a>. While it does not last in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, its ability to trap heat is potent. In fact, methane is about 86 times more harmful<\/a> than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082) in global warming terms, when measured over two decades. <\/p>\n Aside from the harms caused by escaped methane, the leak also represents an enormous waste of a substance produced at a very high cost to the climate. Natural gas extracted from the ground is transported to processing plants and liquified for export, by cooling it to about -160\u00b0C<\/a>. This is an extremely energy-intensive<\/a> process which itself is powered by natural gas and creates substantial greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n Methane reduction is considered a crucial step towards averting a climate disaster<\/a>. The International Energy Agency says methane abatement from oil and gas operations offers some of the world\u2019s best opportunities<\/a> to cut emissions \u2013 was also likely to give companies a commercial advantage. <\/p>\n In 2022, Australia signed the Global Methane Pledge<\/a>, a non-binding commitment to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Australia\u2019s energy producers also claim<\/a> they are committed to reducing methane emissions in Australia.<\/p>\n The Darwin methane leak reveals a host of problems with gas regulation in Australia \u2013 including a lack of public transparency issues with the methods used to quantify leaks. These problems undermine industry and government pledges to reduce emissions.<\/p>\n People protesting Santos\u2019 Barossa Gas project win 2022. The project will soon fill the leaking tank in Darwin. A health time bomb<\/p>\n Bushfires and backburning<\/a> already pollute the air around Darwin. <\/p>\n What\u2019s more, the neighbouring Inpex LNG plant in Darwin has also consistently released<\/a> huge amounts of highly toxic substances including hydrogen sulphide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.<\/p>\n Methane adds to the problem. It reacts with other chemicals in the atmosphere to form a dangerous air pollutant<\/a> known as \u201cground-level ozone\u201d. <\/p>\n Research has found<\/a> each year, ground-level ozone contributes to up to 1.4 million deaths globally, from respiratory and cardiovascular disease. <\/p>\n Tropical areas immediately adjacent to cities<\/a>, such as Darwin\u2019s outer suburbs, are most at risk from such pollution. <\/p>\n Environment Centre NT has also expressed fears the leaking methane presents an explosion risk<\/a>.<\/p>\n A challenge exposed<\/p>\n The problem of methane emissions is not confined to gas projects. For example, research earlier this year showed<\/a> methane emissions from an open-cut coal mine in Queensland were up to eight times higher than reported annually by the operator.<\/p>\n And the problem is not confined to Darwin. Methane-emitting fossil fuel projects are proliferating<\/a> across Australia. Recent approvals include expansion of Woodside\u2019s Northwest Shelf gas project<\/a> and numerous coal mines<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/file-20250902-56-l6e6nz.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Darren England\/AAP<\/p>\n![\"two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/file-20250902-56-tduc7u.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Aaron Bunch\/AAP<\/p>\n![\"people](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/file-20250902-56-p36gqj.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Tamati Smith\/Getty Images<\/p>\n