Moomba CCS a Decisive Step in Australia’s Journey to Becoming a Carbon Capture and Storage Superpower
02.03.2025 By Tank Terminals - NEWS

February 3, 2025 [Storage Terminals Magazine]- The Moomba Carbon Capture and Storage project in South Australia’s Cooper Basin, developed by Santos, commenced operations in October 2024 and by the end of the year had already stored 340,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent. This achievement marks a significant step in large-scale emissions reduction, positioning the project as a key component of Australia’s Net Zero strategy.

 

At full capacity, Moomba CCS is capable of avoiding more CO₂ in just four days than 10,000 electric vehicles save over an entire year. Within one year, it is expected to achieve around 28 percent of the total emissions reduction delivered by Australia’s entire electricity sector in 2023.

The project remains on track to safely and permanently sequester up to 1.7 million tonnes per annum of CO₂e, depending on CO₂ availability. By leveraging proven geological storage, the project stores CO₂ in the same rock formations that have securely held oil and gas for millions of years.

Moomba CCS is Australia’s first large-scale onshore CCS initiative, demonstrating the commercial viability of carbon capture and storage at scale. The Cooper/Eromanga Basins alone have the potential to inject up to 20 Mtpa of CO₂e for 50 years, while Australia’s broader geological storage capacity could accommodate 300 Mtpa for at least a century.

Santos CEO and managing director Kevin Gallagher highlighted the significance of the project:

“We have made history out at Moomba. It’s a first for Santos, a first for South Australia, and a first for Australia in terms of large-scale, onshore CCS.

In bringing this project to fruition, I believe we have also started an incredible new chapter in Australia’s energy transition, which will lead us to become a carbon capture and storage superpower.”

Gallagher also emphasised the importance of CCS in accelerating decarbonisation efforts: “The scale CCS offers is a game changer for emissions reduction in Australia and the region. Policymakers should seize the opportunity to deploy CCS faster, at scale, and cost-competitively, particularly given Australia’s natural advantage in geological storage and its well-established regulatory framework.”

According to leading energy research firm Wood Mackenzie, Australia has the potential to unlock up to A$600 billion in revenue by establishing a CCS industry and positioning itself as a storage hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

Santos has already seen growing interest from both Australian and international customers, reinforcing CCS as a viable pathway for emissions reduction and a driver of new skilled, secure, and well-paid jobs.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has identified CCS as a crucial component in achieving Net Zero by 2050. In its scenario, almost 60 percent of global gas demand would be met by abated gas through carbon capture and storage, contributing to the capture and storage of nearly 6 billion tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2050.

Globally, there are currently 50 CCS projects in operation, capturing over 50 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. A further 630 CCS projects are in development, representing a 60 percent increase year-on-year.

Despite global decarbonisation efforts, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. Gallagher reinforced the urgency of deploying CCS at scale:

“Emissions are the enemy, and if we are serious about achieving Net Zero, we must prioritise abating emissions from hydrocarbon production and use. CCS is the only technology capable of reducing emissions at scale, which is why projects like Moomba CCS are so critical to making Net Zero a reality.”

The successful start-up of Moomba CCS underscores Santos’ leadership in emissions reduction and highlights the transformative potential of CCS in Australia’s energy transition. With its proven technology, vast geological storage capacity, and strong regulatory framework, Australia is well-positioned to become a global leader in carbon capture and storage, delivering real and lasting emissions reductions while supporting economic growth and energy security.

 

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