Fracking could open the door to 10 years of gas supply but is there a risk?
The South Australian government is considering lifting a fracking moratorium in the Limestone Coast, claiming it could provide a decade's worth of gas supply. However, local farmers and analysts express concerns about the risks to groundwater and the financial viability of such exploration. A bill to lift the ban has been introduced but is expected to face defeat in the upper house of parliament.
- ▪The SA government estimates about 200 petajoules of gas reserves in the Otway Basin could meet the state's demand for ten years.
- ▪Local farmers oppose fracking due to concerns over groundwater contamination and risks associated with deep fracking.
- ▪The moratorium on fracking is set to expire in late 2028, but farmers are calling for a permanent ban.
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SA energy minister spruiks fracking potential, but south-east farmers unconvincedBy Josh Brine and Becc BirdABC South East SATopic:Oil and GasSat 23 May 2026 at 6:00amSat 23 May 2026 at 6:00amSat 23 May 2026 at 6:00amTony Beck opposes the lifting of the fracking moratorium on SA's Limestone Coast. (ABC South East: Liz Rymill)In short:The SA government says it believes a decade's worth of state gas supply sits below the Limestone Coast as it tries to remove a ban on fracking in the region.A gas market analyst isn't sure companies will be willing to take on the financial risk of exploring for unconventional gas in the region.What's next?A bill to lift the ban has been tabled in parliament, but is expected to be defeated in the upper…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).