Streitberg said the frac fluid used on the Valhalla North-1 and Asgard-1 wells was "30 times less toxic than pool water", and to make the point Buru had the lab make up the same exact mixture of water (90%), proppants (9.5%) and chemicals (0.5%) - which was described as being effectively guar gum, a key food additive - with the sample sealed at the lab and tracked carefully to the AGM with a strict chain of custody.
The stunt was aimed at trying to highlight Buru's "transparent commitment to environmental standards" and combat an effective scare campaign that saw more than two dozen protestors attend the meeting calling for a fair go for the Kimberley and a ban on fraccing.
"That was obviously stage-managed, but we want to knock these myths on the head," Streitberg said.
But, as has been typical for Buru meetings over the past few years, green groups have purchased shares to gain the right to ask questions.
One, WA Wilderness Society state director Jenita Enevoldsen, asked Streitberg if he's seen the recent report in Plos One that examined fraccing from 2009 and 2015.
The report found that 84% of public health studies contain findings that indicate public health hazards, elevated risks, or adverse health outcomes; 69% of water quality studies contain findings that indicate potential, positive association, or actual incidence of water contamination; and 87% of air quality studies contain findings that indicate elevated air pollutant emissions and/or atmospheric concentrations.
While he had not seen that report, prepared by the US Institute for Health & the Environment, Streitberg said Buru had paid for three independent monitors to assess the impact of its fraccing operations to help the Noonkanbah community understand the impacts on its lands, and it had monitored "everything possible" while fraccing the wells and had seen no material impacts.
He said the company monitors methane and fugitive emissions, and expressed a hope that those could be limited to allow gas to stand up as a key transitional fuel alongside the rapid growth of renewables as the world strives to meet carbon targets.
But he admitted that Buru had not planned for how to react to any emissions trading scheme, if one is brought in.
"We'll address that at the time," he said.
But, in good news for green groups, Streitberg stated that Buru's gas is planned for the domestic market, helping to displace the Collie coal-fired power stations, and he said that whatever LNG export plans that may develop in the future, Buru has no intention or wish to use the WA government site at James Price Point ear-marked for an LNG export precinct.
Buru shares were $0.20 this morning.
