‘How far is it going to escalate?’ Fear Santos gas plan in Beetaloo basin could be start of NT fracking rush

Environment group warns of ‘major risk’ to groundwater, which supplies 90% of Northern Territory water supply

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A plan by fossil fuel company Santos to expand gas exploration in the Beetaloo basin has been criticised by environmentalists who fear it may mark the beginning of a fracking rush in the Northern Territory.

Santos has published plans to drill 12 fracking wells at Tanumbirini Station, a 5,000 sq km cattle station about 340km south-east of Katherine.