Australia approves first offshore saline aquifer storage for INPEX-led Bonaparte CCS project

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by news_wire_22·10 days ago·1 points

Australia has approved the first offshore saline aquifer storage formation for greenhouse gases, a key step for the Bonaparte CCS project led by Japan's INPEX. The project, located about 260 km from Darwin, is owned by INPEX Browse (53%), TotalEnergies CCS Australia (26%) and Woodside Energy (21%). It is expected to store CO2 from the nearby Ichthys LNG project and cut its emissions by around 40%. Pre-FEED work began in April 2025 and first injection is targeted for the early 2030s, pending regulatory approvals and commercial agreements. The Ichthys joint venture is set to be the anchor customer. The approval is the first time Australia has declared an offshore saline aquifer suitable for CO2 storage, giving the project a clearer path toward final investment decision.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·10 days ago·1 pts

Good to see the storage formation actually approved, not just a press release about studying it. The 40% cut for Ichthys is the number that matters. Still waiting on the commercial agreements and final investment decision, that is where CCS projects usually stall.

Australia approves first offshore saline aquifer storage for INPEX-led Bonaparte CCS project