Call for more BP details as drilling hearing begins in SA
The Wilderness Society wants oil giant BP to release more details of its plans to drill exploration wells in the Great Australian Bight as a Senate inquiry continues to investigate the company’s plans.
The inquiry will conduct public hearings in Adelaide on Thursday with the company, environmental groups and the South Australian government among those to give evidence.
It was instigated by SA independent Senator Nick Xenophon and Greens senator Robert Simms to look at the potential environmental, social and economic impacts of any future oil or gas production in the region.
Last year BP had its initial proposal to drill four wells rejected by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) but has since resubmitted its application.
The Wilderness Society says the company should now release all the details of its proposals and also wants the Federal Government to set up an independent expert panel to assess BP’s plans.
National director Lyndon Schneiders said an expert panel was needed because NOPSEMA had no experience in assessing the cumulative impacts of the oil exploration planned for the bight.
AAP
