Woodside Energy and the North West Shelf Joint Venture have secured the Australian Government’s final environmental approval for the North West Shelf Project Extension, allowing the project to continue operations well beyond its previous lifespan.
The approval follows an extensive assessment and appeal process and includes stringent conditions aimed at protecting cultural heritage and the environment.
The Australian government’s approval imposes 48 conditions designed to mitigate impacts on the Murujuga Cultural Landscape, which is part of the World Heritage-listed Dampier Archipelago, including the Burrup Peninsula.
The conditions mandate additional monitoring and management of air emissions, requiring certain gas emissions to be reduced by up to 60 per cent by 2030, with ongoing decreases beyond that.
“This final approval provides certainty for the ongoing operation of the North West Shelf Project, so it can continue to provide reliable energy supplies as it has for more than 40 years,” said Woodside Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Australia Liz Westcott.
“Over this time, the North West Shelf Project has paid more than $40 billion in royalties and excise, supported thousands of Australian jobs and contributed well over $300 million to communities in the Pilbara through social investment initiatives and infrastructure support.”
The North West Shelf Project has supplied more than 6,000 petajoules of domestic gas, which is enough to power homes in a city the size of Perth for approximately 175 years if used solely for household electricity.
Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch noted the project’s critical role in Western Australia’s energy security and economy.
“The North West Shelf has been powering Western Australian homes and industry for 40 years, and today’s decision will ensure it continues to play a critical role in the state’s future energy security and economic prosperity,” she said.
“The project’s extension is essential to avoid forecast gas shortfalls from 2030 and ensure reliable and affordable supply for households, businesses and manufacturers.”
Natural gas meets over half of Western Australia’s primary energy needs and 60 per cent of its electricity demand, with the gas industry contributing $35 billion annually to the state economy and supporting more than 73,000 jobs.
McCulloch added that after six years of state-based approvals and delays, the federal government’s decision brings vital clarity for industry and investors, strengthening WA’s position as a global energy leader.
The extension supports Australia’s net zero emissions pathway by ensuring reliable gas supply to back up increasing renewable energy generation while continuing to provide relatively lower-emission energy to key trading partners in Asia.
“WA gas is not only vital to local communities and industry — it strengthens our international role as a reliable energy supplier, supports decarbonisation in the region, and delivers long-term benefits to regional communities and workers across the state,” McCulloch said.
The conditions attached to the approval require the project to operate without causing unacceptable impacts to the cultural heritage sites, including compliance with air quality standards derived from ongoing scientific monitoring.
The project’s approval secures its potential operating life to 2070, enabling Woodside to continue one of Australia’s largest and longest-running gas operations with commitments to sustainability and cultural protections.
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