APA Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Santos to explore the development of potential carbon capture and storage (CCS) pipelines for their Moomba CCS facility.
The scope of the MoU is to assess the potential to unlock decarbonisation opportunities by connecting heavy CO2 emitters as well as CO2 import locations to the Santos operated CCS facility in Moomba, South Australia via CCS pipelines.
The partnership will include an assessment of CCS pipeline routes from key emission sources in Gladstone, Port Bonython, and Greater Sydney to the Moomba CCS facility in the Cooper Basin.
These opportunities are subject to necessary internal and external approvals and a longer form project agreement being negotiated and finalised by the parties.
APA Group Executive Energy Solutions Darren Rogers said he was pleased to partner with Santos to assess potential opportunities to develop pipeline infrastructure for their Moomba CCS facility.
“As an Australian energy infrastructure provider, we have great capability to support our customers and other parts of Australian industry to explore the development of CCS projects and which have the potential to support the decarbonisation of our economy and hard-to-abate sectors.
“CCS is recognised by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to play an important role in reducing emissions in the energy sector.
“We have deep experience and capability in building complex linear infrastructure, having developed thousands of kilometres of pipelines across Australia, which will continue to play an important role in Australia’s energy transition,” said Rogers.
The Moomba CCS project is Santos’ most advanced CCS hub in Australia. Santos believes it has the potential to store up to 1.5 to 1.7 million tonnes of CO2 per year, subject to production levels, from first injection which is expected to commence in 2024.