Australian state approves Kimberley fracking plan, drawing anger

The state's environmental protection agency approved a controversial fracking proposal in Western Australia's remote, ecologically sensitive Kimberley region on Tuesday. This angered environmental campaigners. Bennett Resources, an American-based private subsidiary, Black Mountain Energy, presented its Valhalla Plan in 2021 for fracking?upto?20 wells. Later, it increased the amount water needed per well from 40 to 100 millions litres.

A report by an Independent Expert Scientific Committee commissioned by the Federal government last year indicated that there was uncertainty about whether groundwater can be protected from hazardous chemical. The WA EPA determined that the risks to the project were so low, it was able to approve it.

"We are horrified by this decision to recommend the most environmentally damaging proposal in the Kimberley's history. Martin Pritchard, director of Environs Kimberley, said that it is outrageous that the WA EPA made this recommendation on one of the most pristine landscapes in the world.

"We know the majority of Western Australians don't support fracking on the Kimberley. "The Kimberley is a truly global icon?worth protecting against the ravages fracking," stated Simone van Hattem. She's a state campaign coordinator for Lock the Gate Alliance.

Bennett Resources has not responded to an immediate request for comment. Valhalla is only one of two onshore projects in the state that have an LNG export waiver. Waitsia, a joint Mitsui-Beach Energy project in Perth Basin that began sending gas to Woodside Energy's North?West Shelf LNG Plant in late 2025. Valhalla's initial plan does not include production or LNG export, but it allows for exploration and appraisal drilling. The project was?suggested? as a possible candidate to backfill NWS plant, despite it being?1,000 km (621 miles), away.

Western Australia lifted its moratorium on fracking following a review in 2018.

Valhalla will be subject to a public hearing. Black Mountain Energy, which was listed initially on the Australian Securities Exchange, went private in a matter of years after losing most of its value. (Reporting and editing by Kate Mayberry; Helen Clark)

(source: Reuters)