Western Australia Environmental Protection Authority Approves Valhalla Fracking Plan in the Kimberley Region
Western Australia regulators have approved the Valhalla fracking project in the Kimberley. The decision follows scientific concerns regarding groundwater safety.
Insights:
The Western Australia Environmental Protection Authority approved the Valhalla fracking plan submitted by Bennett Resources today, Tuesday, January 20, 2026. This decision marks a significant regulatory milestone as the first major onshore gas project greenlit in the ecologically sensitive Kimberley region of Australia 
AUsince the state government ended a moratorium on fracking in 2018 following a review. The proposal was originally submitted in 2021 and represents a contentious step forward for the unconventional gas sector in the region.
AUsince the state government ended a moratorium on fracking in 2018 following a review. The proposal was originally submitted in 2021 and represents a contentious step forward for the unconventional gas sector in the region.Bennett Resources is a private subsidiary of Black Mountain Energy which is based in the United States 
US. The approved plan enables the exploration and possible appraisal drilling of up to 20 wells but does not currently allow for full production or liquefied natural gas exports. As part of the technical specifications for the project, Bennett Resources increased the estimated water requirement per well from 40 million litres to 100 million litres.
US. The approved plan enables the exploration and possible appraisal drilling of up to 20 wells but does not currently allow for full production or liquefied natural gas exports. As part of the technical specifications for the project, Bennett Resources increased the estimated water requirement per well from 40 million litres to 100 million litres.
