Australia approves the North West Shelf Gas Plant to operate until 2070

Australia approved Woodside's application to operate Australia's second largest and oldest liquefied gas plant, the LibNaGa Plant, until 2070. The new emission rules were imposed to reduce its environmental impact.

North West Shelf, a plant in Western Australia, is expected to emit up to 4.3 million metric tons carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Critics say this will endanger nearby ancient rock art as well as set back climate change efforts.

Murray Watt, the Environment Minister, told a Friday press conference that Woodside had accepted a number of conditions to protect Indigenous art.

He said that the approval was subject to 48 conditions to protect the 60,000-year-old rock art of the Pilbara Region.

The North West Shelf licence was due to expire by 2030.

The extension bid, which began seven years ago, was quickly mired by legal challenges and state and federal assessment, as this plant became a focal point of Australia's debate on energy transition.

In May, despite fierce opposition by green groups, the extension of four decades was granted preliminary approval subject to "strict" conditions.

A 10-day consultation period was extended to almost four months due to disagreements between the government, Woodside, and the local Indigenous Murujuga people over the rules.

Experts in rock art have warned that such emissions could degrade the UNESCO World Heritage listed petroglyphs through acid rain.

Woodside's North West Shelf partners are BP, Shell, Mitsui & Co, Mitsubishi Corp and Mitsui & Co, both of Japan, as well as CNOOC, China.

The North West Shelf original offshore gas fields are in decline. Woodside can now bring new supply online, including the long-dormant Browse offshore Project.

(source: Reuters)