The Western Australian Government Approves Environmental Extension for North West Shelf Project
The Western Australian Government has granted environmental approval to Woodside and the North West Shelf joint venture for the extension of the project. This significant milestone comes after six years of rigorous assessment and appeals, marking a crucial step in securing the ongoing operation of the North West Shelf Project to ensure a reliable energy supply both locally and globally.
The state’s approval reinitiates the Federal environmental approvals process, which had been paused during the appeal period. The extension of the North West Shelf Project is instrumental in enabling the long-term processing of field resources from the North West Shelf Joint Venture and third-party gas resources through the Karratha Gas Plant, as highlighted by Woodside.
Liz Westcott, Woodside Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Australia, expressed optimism about the project’s future, stating, “This year marks 40 years of domestic gas production from the Karratha Gas Plant and 35 years of LNG exports, contributing to a reliable energy supply that can continue well into the future. We eagerly await the finalization of the Federal approval process to provide certainty for the ongoing operation of the North West Shelf Project.”
As part of the approval, the North West Shelf Project has committed to implementing various environmental management measures, including a significant reduction in air emissions such as Oxides of Nitrogen and Volatile Organic Compounds, along with greenhouse gas emissions management strategies to decrease emissions over time.
Since its inception in 1984, the North West Shelf Project has supplied over 6,000 petajoules of domestic gas, powering homes and industries in Western Australia. To put this into perspective, this amount of gas could sustain every household in a city the size of Perth for approximately 175 years if solely used for residential purposes.
Over the past four decades, the North West Shelf Project has contributed more than $40 billion in royalties and excise, generated employment opportunities for the Pilbara community, and invested over $300 million in social and community infrastructure.
The approval of the environmental extension for the North West Shelf Project signifies a crucial milestone in ensuring sustainable energy production and continued economic benefits for the region. With a commitment to environmental stewardship and long-term viability, the project is poised to play a vital role in meeting energy demands in Western Australia and beyond.