AsianOil: Australia’s energy giant Santos stands up to anti-energy activist law firm

Leading Australian energy firm Santos has been forced to halt its Barossa gas project due to a lawsuit filed by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), an activist law firm.

The project had aimed to connect the Barossa gas field 285 km offshore to the Darwin LNG export complex via an underwater pipeline.

Australia’s Federal Court upheld an injunction filed by the EDO on November 15, which will now remain in place until a trial is held at some point in December, according to a piece by the Energy & Commodities brokerage services.  

Meanwhile, the Santos CEO, Kevin Gallagher, expressed his frustration at a press conference at the monthly Western Australia Energy Club luncheon in Perth. In comments made at the event, he said he expected the EDO to file further lawsuits to stall the Barossa and Woodside's Scarborough project.

He went on to cast doubt on the future of any major energy project in the country as a result of the modus operandi currently being employed by the EDO.

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