Audit in Australia records Inpex progress in correcting emissions data
An independent audit found that Japanese gas company Inpex has taken significant steps to correct errors in reporting toxic emissions at the Ichthys LNG facility in Darwin, Australia. However, the company has not yet corrected all historical errors and does not directly measure all emission sources, ABC News Australia reports.
The review was conducted by consulting firm AECOM at the request of the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority. Auditor Todd Mitchell found no evidence that Inpex had deliberately falsified data and concluded that the company had introduced appropriate measures to improve reporting accuracy.
At the same time, Mitchell noted that no independent site inspection had been carried out: the conclusions were based on publicly available documents and information provided by Inpex itself.
Court proceedings and regulator requirements
Inpex is appearing in court in a case initiated by the Northern Territory environmental regulator over understating emissions data. Benzene, a substance classified by the World Health Organization as a Group 1 carcinogen, was among the emissions whose data had been understated. The company’s first court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday, but the hearing was postponed until November.
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In July, the regulator recommended changing Inpex’s licence conditions, including imposing pollution limits. The audit was intended to assess the company’s ability to control pollution, remedy its potential harm and correctly submit data to the National Pollutant Inventory.
Emissions calculations
According to the audit, Inpex has begun accounting for emissions from LNG carriers moored near the facility. However, it uses industry average figures rather than direct measurements to calculate them. The auditor considered this approach acceptable in the absence of sampled emissions from vessels, as the figures may vary depending on the vessel.
The company has also begun accounting for ammonia, fuel and condensate emissions and is moving from internal spreadsheets to an environmental data management system. In the auditor’s view, this could significantly reduce the risk of future errors if properly implemented.
At the same time, the review raised questions about whether Inpex reports all required pollutants. In particular, mercury was not recorded for all sources at the facility. The auditor identified a number of uncertainties in the calculations, including regarding leaks and annual measurements, but generally considered them acceptable. The regulator said the company had agreed to implement the audit’s recommendations, including annual verification and updating all emissions calculations.
