During Parliamentary Budget Estimates on Friday 30 July 2021, I asked the Government about their plans to reduce fugitive methane emissions, particularly from coal mining.
You can read the answers below or in the official Queensland Parliament Record of Proceedings (Hansard).
Mr BERKMAN: Director-General, I am interested in some recently released satellite data that shows fugitive methane emissions from the Bowen Basin are up significantly—around 7.5 kilograms per tonne of coal produced. Given what we know about the potency of methane as a greenhouse gas— 28 times more potent that carbon dioxide—does the government have any plan currently in place to significantly reduce those fugitive emissions?
Mr Merrick: Whilst I have not seen the specific information that you refer to, the department certainly has done work in the past to understand fugitive emissions. Obviously there has been a significant growth in terms of Queensland’s overall emissions. Yes, the department is currently working with other agencies to look at mechanisms we can put in place to apply downward pressure on fugitive emissions.