The WA government has approved a 50-year extension of Woodside Energy’s Northwest Shelf plant on the Burrup Hub for a major liquefied natural gas project following a six-year approvals process. Extending the life of the Karratha plant to 2070 is a major step in Woodside’s plans to develop the 30-billion-dollar Browse LNG project off WA’s north coast.
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00:00To the Premier, it's a critical gas project to help in the transition from coal to renewables.
00:08We are trying to save the planet, not just trying to save Western Australia, this small
00:13part of the planet.
00:14Environment Minister Rhys Whitby gave the project extension the green light with a range
00:19of conditions after dismissing a record 770 appeals against the Environmental Protection
00:25Agency's earlier recommendation to proceed.
00:29I'm so disheartened today to hear that this project is going to go ahead.
00:34It's the Minister's first decision since changing the Government's Greenhouse Gas Emissions
00:37Policy last month to strip the EPA of the power to regulate emissions.
00:43Environmental groups say it would be the most polluting gas project in the Southern Hemisphere
00:48and threaten the 50,000 year old rock art at Moorujuga, also known as the Burrup Peninsula.
00:54This is a massive kick in the guts to all West Australians and all Australians who are
01:00placing their hope in a Government to deal with climate action and reduce emissions.
01:07It is completely hypocritical to think that you can reach net zero by 2050 while approving
01:13gas exports beyond 2050 out to 2070.
01:16It just doesn't make sense.
01:18As part of the conditions, Woodside must review its operations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
01:24and monitor air quality.
01:26In a statement, Woodside says it's committed to ensuring it meets all environmental requirements
01:31and will consult traditional owners regarding its activities.
01:36But the project extension still requires Federal approval.
01:39We call on the Albanese Government to reject the Northwest Shelf extension for both our
01:44future and our climate.
01:47Environment Minister Tania Plibersek has 30 business days to make a decision.