Conservation groups criticise carbon storage system.


Conservation groups have criticised the Federal Government for helping to fund the world's largest carbon capture and storage project off the Western Australian coast.
The proponents of the $15 billion Gorgon gas project on Barrow Island, off the Pilbara coast, plan to inject 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide underground each year.
The Federal Government has contributed $60 million towards the carbon capture program, which is expected to cost $850 million in total.
Environment Minister Ian Campbell says the technology will play a significant role in fighting global warming.
"About 25 per cent of all of the carbon dioxide emissions in Australia could be stored this way," he said.
But WA Conservation Council spokesman Chris Tallentire says he is concerned about the potential environmental impact.
"It's an unproven technology at this scale and it could see massive leakages," he said.
Government funding is conditional on environmental approvals.
In other developments:
The Federal Government is to contribute $60 million towards a carbon capture and storage system at the multi-billion dollar Gorgon Gas project in Western Australia. (Full Story)