Inpex Faces Legal Action Over Ichthys LNG Emissions Breaches

Australian regulator takes legal action against Japanese energy company Inpex for allegedly under-reporting emissions from its Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant near Darwin.

The charges cover a five-year period from 2019 to 2024, during which Inpex is accused of failing to report benzene and toluene emissions accurately. The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority filed the lawsuit on Wednesday after an internal review found significant discrepancies in the company's emissions reports.

The regulator had previously conducted a review of operations at both Ichthys LNG and Santos' Darwin LNG facilities, which made 23 recommendations for tougher regulations, including the installation of continuous emissions monitoring equipment. The changes are set to be implemented this month, with amendments to existing licenses reflecting the new rules.