Are Santos and Eni’s CCS plans in the Timor Sea ‘carbon colonialism’?

Are Santos and Eni’s CCS plans in the Timor Sea ‘carbon colonialism’?

Fast-moving plans for a Santos-led carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at the Bayu Undan field offshore East Timor, that would see the nation import Australia’s waste, have been described as “carbon colonialism” by independent thinktank La’o Hamutuk.

Charles Scheiner, an analyst at the Timorese NGO, warned that Santos (ASX:STO), Eni (BIT:ENI), as well as Australia, are hoping to exploit an impoverished neighbour, by implementing the proposed CCS scheme, targeted to start-up in 2025. If successful, it would be one of the biggest carbon storage sites globally.

“I think most people would not want Timor Leste to import Australia’s waste and would be appalled at being used to justify further destruction of the climate,” said Scheiner, speaking on Tuesday during a webinar about CCS organised by the Environment Centre NT. East Timor is also known as Timor Leste.