The Moomba CCS project, operated by Santos in South Australia, reached two million tonnes of CO2e stored safely and permanently in just over 18 months of operation. This figure reinforces the progress of carbon capture and storage as a technical tool for reducing emissions in large-scale energy operations.
Located in the Cooper Basin, Moomba CCS is considered Australia’s largest onshore carbon capture and storage project. Its performance is particularly significant as the facility maintained operations despite two major floods recorded in the basin over the past year.
Moomba CCS consolidates geological CO2 storage
According to Santos, the system stored nearly 1 million tonnes of CO2e during the 2024/25 reporting period. This volume is approximately equivalent to one-third of the total emissions reduction covered by Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism compared to the previous year.
Furthermore, the Australian Clean Energy Regulator noted in its 2024/25 data report that the implementation of carbon capture and storage at Moomba contributed to reducing the emissions intensity of the oil and gas sector. This positioning establishes the project as an operational benchmark within the country’s energy decarbonization efforts.
As of September 30, 2025, Moomba CCS had received over 1.19 million Australian Carbon Credit Units for the CO2e injected since the project’s inception. These credits, known as ACCUs, recognize verified reductions or removals within the Australian climate scheme.
Santos aims for a regional carbon storage hub
Kevin Gallagher, Managing Director and CEO of Santos, stated that Australia possesses competitive advantages to lead regional carbon storage. Among these, he mentioned geological resources, a robust regulatory framework, and proximity to industrial emitters that concentrate large sources of CO2.
Additionally, Santos estimates that its acreage in the Cooper/Eromanga basins could allow for the injection of up to 20 million tonnes of CO2 per year for up to 50 years. This capacity opens the door to solutions for hard-to-abate industries such as steel and cement.
Two million tonnes of CO2e stored
With two million tonnes of CO2e stored, Moomba CCS has sequestered emissions equivalent to removing 826,000 cars from South Australian roads. This comparison illustrates the project’s climate impact in everyday terms, although the technical value lies in the permanence of geological storage.
Moreover, Santos indicated that Moomba CCS is already contributing to its 2030 target for Scope 1 and 2 equity emissions reduction. According to the company, this goal was achieved five years ahead of schedule thanks to the project’s performance and other efficiency and emissions reduction measures.
Carbon capture and storage for third parties
After surpassing two million tonnes of CO2e stored, Santos seeks to strengthen a commercial carbon storage business targeting third-party emissions. The company intends to offer infrastructure for industrial customers who need to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising complex production processes.
Finally, Moomba CCS is emerging as a key platform for testing the technical and economic viability of large-scale carbon capture and storage in Australia. Its operation in the Cooper Basin demonstrates how existing energy infrastructure can be integrated with decarbonization solutions for high-emission intensity sectors.
Source: Santos
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