Santos fined just $10,000 for significant oil spill that killed marine life

Karratha holds significant cultural importance for Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi people. The incident occurred in March 2022 at Santos's Varunus Island Gas Plant

Santos has been fined just $10,000 for a significant oil spill off the coast of Karratha that killed marine life and sparked outrage among Traditional Owners.

The incident occurred in March 2022 at Santos's Varunus Island Gas Plant, about 100 kilometres north-west of Karratha.

An investigation by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation found about 1,200 litres of oil leaked into the ocean over two days.

The spill killed marine life, including seabirds, and Traditional Owners said it caused significant distress to Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi people.

Santos pleaded guilty to one charge of polluting coastal waters in the Karratha Magistrates Court on Friday.

The court heard Santos self-reported the spill and had since implemented measures to prevent a reoccurrence.

Santos lawyer Michael Magazio said the company accepted responsibility for the spill and had taken steps to improve its operations.

"Santos accepts that the oil spill should not have occurred and that it caused environmental harm," Mr Magazio said.

"Santos has taken a number of steps to improve its operations since the oil spill, including increasing the frequency of inspections and maintenance of its pipelines and improving its oil spill response procedures."

The court heard Santos had paid $1.2 million in clean-up costs and compensation to Traditional Owners.

However, Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Traditional Owners have previously said the compensation was "grossly inadequate".

The Traditional Owners said they were "deeply saddened" by the oil spill and the impact it had on their Country, people and culture.

"We are calling on Santos to take full responsibility for their actions and to provide adequate compensation to Traditional Owners," they said.

"We will not tolerate any further destruction of our Country."

Santos was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $1,200 in court costs.