Australia’s Federal Court rules on a closely-watched appeal by Santos seeking to reinstate a drilling permit for its $3.6 billion Barossa gas project.

Drilling was suspended at the Barossa project off northern Australia after a judge on Sept. 21 found that the offshore regulator’s approval of Santos’ drilling environment plan was invalid.

The judge ruled the company had not properly consulted Tiwi Islander Dennis Tipakalippa and other traditional owners about the impact of drilling on their Sea Country.

Aljazeera,