Santos announces investment in Aboriginal communities for Barossa Gas Project

Santos, alongside its joint venture partners in the Barossa Gas Project, has announced a significant investment of up to A$10 million in Northern Territory coastal Aboriginal communities and homelands. This commitment is part of the development phase of the project, aimed at enhancing community infrastructure, services, and providing Aboriginal people with opportunities for cultural, social, and economic development.

The investment focuses on improving community and homeland infrastructure, services, and programs that enable Aboriginal people to maintain cultural practices, care for their country, and secure skilled, well-paying jobs and business opportunities. Further demonstrating their commitment, the Barossa Gas Project joint venture partners plan to establish a long-term fund from the commencement of production in 2025 to share the project’s benefits with the communities throughout its lifespan.

This fund aims to deliver intergenerational progress for Aboriginal Territorians, investing in health, education, housing, and economic outcomes. It also supports programs that promote cultural practices, community resilience, and capacity building for new career paths and business opportunities.

Barossa Gas Project : Santos and Partners Commit A$10 Million to Support Northern Territory Aboriginal Communities

Santos has engaged with Aboriginal leaders across multiple regions in 2023, ensuring that Aboriginal people have a significant voice in the governance and investment mandate of the fund, as well as in selecting priority projects.

Kevin Gallagher, Santos CEO and Managing Director, emphasized the importance of training, education, and employment as foundational for social and economic empowerment. He highlighted the Barossa and Darwin LNG life extension projects’ role in providing new opportunities for Aboriginal Territorians. A new jobs program with KAEFER is already underway, demonstrating early success with over 90 applicants and plans for more trainees and apprentices to start soon.

Ministers Mark Monaghan and Kate Worden also expressed their support, underscoring the project’s potential to bridge gaps between private companies and traditional owners, improving health care, education, and infrastructure for remote communities.

The initiative by Santos and its partners represents a paradigm shift in how the resource sector engages with Aboriginal communities, focusing on long-term, sustainable benefits. This approach not only supports the preservation of cultural practices but also lays the groundwork for economic empowerment and community resilience. By aligning project development with community investment, Santos is setting a precedent for corporate responsibility in supporting indigenous communities, fostering a model for others in the industry to follow.