BHP’s $45b giant: the bigger, deeper Olympic DamCoal seam gas under renewed pressure
Lateline - ABC TV - 29.8.2011
The coal seam gas industry is under pressure again today with news of a possible contamination of cancer-causing chemicals in Queensland.
This follows a savage attack on the industry by the mining magnate Clive Palmer, who claims it will devastate the environment.
Lateline has spoken to three of Australia’s top water scientists, most of whom say more research is urgently needed.
One key question is what to do with an estimated 30 million tonnes of salt that may have to be buried like nuclear waste.
From 4,000 coal seam gas wells in regional Queensland now to 30,000 in the next 10 or 20 years. It’s a $60 billion gas rush that’s caught governments napping about the impact on the environment.
Watch the program:
http://www.abc.net.au:80/lateline/content/2011/s3305176.htm