Woodside and the North West Shelf Joint Venture have expressed their support for the Australian Federal Government's proposal to grant environmental approval for the North West Shelf project extension.

This decision is set to provide certainty for the project's operations, which have undergone thorough assessments and appeals.

Reuters reported that Woodside Energy is planning to extend the operational life of its North West Shelf gas plant until 2070.

Woodside Australia executive vice-president and chief operating officer Liz Westcott said: “This proposed approval will secure the ongoing operation of the North West Shelf and the thousands of direct and indirect jobs that it supports.

“This nationally significant infrastructure has supplied reliable and affordable energy to Western Australia [WA] for 40 years and international customers for 35 years and will be able to continue its contribution to energy security."

The proposed federal conditions received by Woodside pertain to various aspects including the management of cultural heritage and air quality.

In alignment with the State Government's approval in December 2024, the North West Shelf has committed to environmental management measures such as a reduction in air emissions and strategies to manage and gradually reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The conditions also stipulate meaningful consultation with traditional owners, ensuring compliance with air quality objectives and standards as part of the Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Programme.

Westcott added: “Since starting operations in 1984, the North West Shelf Project has paid over A$40bn [$25.76bn] in royalties and taxes, and supported regional development opportunities in the Pilbara.”

The North West Shelf project has been a significant contributor to WA's energy supply, providing more than 6,000PJ of domestic gas, which could power a city the size of Perth for approximately 175 years if used solely for household electricity, Woodside said.

For more than four decades, the project has generated over A$40bn in royalties and excise, created employment and contracting opportunities in the Pilbara and across WA.

It has invested more than A$300m in social and community infrastructure within the city of Karratha.

"Woodside grants approval for North West Shelf project extension in WA" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.

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