Queensland’s CTSCo carbon capture and storage (CCS) pilot was once the most advanced onshore CCS project in Australia’s east – a flagship test case bridging research to commercial-scale deployment. Despite robust technical planning and early engagement efforts (over 1,600 stakeholder interactions), this pioneering project failed to secure enduring social licence in the face of orchestrated misinformation and opposition. Influential agribusiness interests mobilised fear campaigns claiming catastrophic risks to groundwater, drowning out scientific assurances of safety. Local communities were largely supportive, but their voices were muted as political momentum built against the project.

As Queensland’s 2024 election loomed, anti-CCS narratives gained traction among local politicians and media, culminating in a sudden state government ban on CO₂ storage in the Great Artesian Basin. This abrupt decision – made despite the project’s regulatory compliance and supporting scientific evidence – not only terminated the decade-long, $50 million CTSCo initiative, but also sent a chilling signal to investors. The collapse of political will highlighted how fragile social licence and policy support can derail even well-founded CCS projects.

This case study distils key learnings for future CCS endeavours. It underscores the importance of proactive, fact-based stakeholder engagement and trust-building to counter misinformation. It also contrasts Queensland’s setback with broader national trends: while Australia has numerous CCS projects underway, Queensland now has none. Meanwhile, other jurisdictions are emerging as CCS leaders due to favourable geology, strong political backing and clear regulatory pathways. Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory exemplify how aligning technical readiness with community and government support can drive CCS success. Queensland’s experience offers a cautionary tale – and a roadmap for others to avoid missteps and foster durable social licence for CCS.

Moomba CCS Project – First year Lookback 

Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a critical part of the journey to carbon net zero.  Already in Australia there are two commercial carbon sequestration plants, Gorgon on the North West Shelf and Moomba in the Cooper Basin.  Both are operated by oil and gas companies that produce CO2 associated with gas production and inject the CO2 into subsurface reservoirs.  Australian Carbon Vault (ACV) is a company without oil and gas association/production and holds Gas Storage Exploration Licences (GSELs) in the Arckaringa Basin.  The company is building an integrated network across SE Asia to acquire, transport and store permanently CO2.   This paper describes the process ACV is undertaking in building a Carbon Sequestration business in South Australia. With success, ACV has the potential to transform the Australian Carbon Sequestration landscape.  

A comprehensive exploration campaign was undertaken to assess the carbon dioxide storage and geothermal potential in the Darling Basin. The work utilised seismic surveys, drilling, wireline and MWD logging, conventional coring and laboratory analyses. Three wells, Mena Murtee-1, Coona Coona-1 and Coona Coona-2, successfully intersected the target reservoirs within the Upper Devonian sandstone units. Results indicate the Pondie Range Trough has a normal geothermal gradient and the capacity to store around 240 million tonnes of CO₂ over 50 years, supported by extensive regional seals, fair reservoir quality and manageable project risks.

 

The program has substantially improved knowledge of the Darling Basin’s geothermal and storage potential and established a strong platform for future carbon capture and storage (CCS) development. All data acquired will be made publicly available and the next phase will deliver flow test results that are critical for validating CO₂ storage resources.