Woodside‘s North West Shelf Extension Approved Amid Climate Concerns
PERTH, WA – The Western Australian government has approvedโ an extension to Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf gas project, paving theโ way forโค the development of the Browse Basin, a move immediately drawing criticism from environmental groups who claim the project could release up โto 1.6โ billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent overโฃ its lifetime. The approval,granted today,allows Woodside to process gas from the remoteโ Browseโข Basin through the existing North West shelf infrastructure.
The decision arrives at a critical juncture in Australia’s climate debate, as the nation grapples with balancing energy security, economic interests, adn its commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. โWoodside maintains the Browse โคprojectโค is vital for Western Australia’s future gas supply and meetingโฃ the energy demands of its customers, proposing a carbon capture and storage solution to mitigate the environmental impact. Though, the project is anticipated to face legal challenges and protests, mirroring the recent battles over the Burrup Hub.
Woodside arguesโ browse is critically important for โคboth WA’s future gas โmix, and meeting its clients’ energyโข needs, and โคis proposing a carbonโ capture and storage solution to sequester carbon dioxide. Freelance journalistโ marian Wilkinson recently predicted in a โQuarterly Essay that the Browse development would trigger further legal disputes, โฃprotests, and โlengthy appeals.
The North โคWest Shelf is one of the world’s largest LNG โฃfacilities, and the Browse Basin holds significant gas reserves. The extension will allow Woodside to access these reserves, extending the life of the existing infrastructure.
“But โif the battle over the Burrup Hub teaches โขusโ anything,” Wilkinson wrote, “It’s that Australia needs a broader, national debate aboutโ gas exports and climate change. One that asks:โ Can Australia really beโข aโ responsible climate actor if it keeps developing major new gas projects โคas global emissions continue to rise and the chances of holding global warming to 1.5 Celsius fade?”
