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Release of the LNG Licence Review: NT EPA media statement

31 Jul 2026

In October 2025, INPEX advised the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) and chief health officer (CHO) that it had under-reported pollutant emissions from its operations, including significant under-reporting of benzene emissions by a factor of 100.

In response, the NT EPA initiated a range of measures to strengthen the regulation of air quality in the Darwin airshed, including:

  • An independent review of INPEX’s modelling and monitoring, which found the revised emissions did not pose a risk to human health. This was then used by the CHO to undertake an independent human health risk assessment.
  • A review of Environment Protection Licences issued to LNG facilities under the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act 1998.
  • Requiring INPEX to undertake an independent audit of its revised emissions estimation methodology to ensure future estimates are accurate. The audit can be viewed on the public register.
  • Supporting the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (DLPE) to strengthen air quality monitoring in the Darwin area.

DLPE has now completed the LNG licence review.

The final report is available on the NT EPA website. Read the Darwin Airshed LNG Licence Review PDF (2.6 MB).

The review makes 23 recommendations to strengthen the regulation of LNG facilities, including:

  • Introducing concentration and mass emission limits for pollutants where not currently implemented.
  • Requiring all licensees to install continuous monitoring equipment for major emission sources.
  • Strengthening limits on hot venting at both facilities, with the aim of achieving 99% availability of pollution-control equipment, such as acid gas removal incinerators and thermal oxidisers, over time.
  • Requiring operators to avoid cumulative impacts from concurrent hot venting from both facilities.
  • Establishing a community consultative committee to inform the public and stakeholders about issues affecting the community.
  • Strengthening transparency through improved monitoring, reporting and publication of relevant information.
  • Requiring an audit every 5 years to verify implementation of best-practice pollution-control measures.
  • Aligning requirements for fugitive emissions management.

The recommendations have been endorsed by the NT EPA in full.

To implement the recommendations of the review, amendments to the existing licences will be required. The drafting of proposed amendments will commence in August 2026.

The amendment process will occur in accordance with the requirements of the Act and will include consultation with licensees through established procedures.

Dr Paul Vogel AM, Chair of the NT EPA, said:

'These changes represent a step change in the regulation of emissions in the Darwin airshed. The Northern Territory already has some of the most stringent conditions in its licensing regime, and these changes will ensure that air emissions are managed and regulated using best-practice pollution management.

'The community rightly expects industry to continually improve its environmental performance. These changes set clear expectations for operators to demonstrate best-practice environmental management and accountability.

'Together with the Territory Government’s recently announced major improvements to air quality monitoring, these changes will provide further confidence that the community’s health is being protected and that environmental decision-making supports the assessment of future development proposals in a manner that safeguards ecologically sustainable development.

'This will provide confidence that the community's health is protected from air emissions from the LNG sector.'

The NT EPA remains committed to transparency, scientific integrity, and the health and wellbeing of Territorians.

Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.

Information relating to air emissions in the Darwin airshed, including the CHO’s human health risk assessment, air quality modelling review and licence review, is available on the Darwin airshed emissions management.

For more information, see previous NT EPA statements on INPEX emissions:

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