Murray Watt flags Woodside's North West Shelf project extension response could be delayed
A final decision on the future of Woodside's major gas plant could be delayed, with the federal environment minister revealing the mining giant has more time to respond to his provisional approval of its North West Shelf extension.
Murray Watt last month threw his support behind Woodside continuing to operate its onshore gas processing plant in Western Australia's north for the next four decades.
Woodside is considering the "strict" conditions attached to his approval, aimed at protecting ancient Aboriginal rock art in the Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula.
Mr Watt said while the 10-day period to do so expires tomorrow, he wasn't certain that would happen.
"We haven't received a final response from Woodside at this point," he told ABC radio.
"When I handed down my proposed decision a couple of weeks ago, there was a 10-day comment period for Woodside to respond to.
"That 10- day period expires [tomorrow], but I should say it's not uncommon for proponents in this situation to take a bit longer in coming back on those comments.
"I can't predict exactly when it will be that Woodside will provide those comments once I receive them, consider them and make a decision on whether or not to approve the project."
The North West Shelf is Australia's largest oil and gas precinct, located off the north-west coast of WA, near the regional city of Karratha.
Woodside has several offshore platforms and undersea pipelines to enable it to extract gas, which is then processed at the onshore gas plant.
In 2018, Woodside applied for a permit to extend the life of that plant beyond 2030, which triggered a long and controversial process which ultimately saw the proposal approved by the state, and most recently, federal governments.
The North West Shelf extension sets the company up to expand its operations beyond the existing gas fields.
The 2070 extension is seen as a critical step in extracting gas from the untapped Browse fields, north of Broome, without building new infrastructure to process it.
Browse is said to have reserves large enough to meet Australia's entire domestic demand for almost 20 years.
However, Woodside's application to drill there has yet to be approved, and after nearly seven years, is still going through environmental assessment.
The North West Shelf extension was touted as a boon to WA industry, promising job security to thousands.
But the move has left green groups furious, with critics warning opposition to Browse — which is still before the Environmental Protection Authority — will be fierce.
Concerns are wide ranging, and include questions about what the project's emissions will mean for WA's climate targets.
There's also alarm about the proximity of the Browse gas fields to the Scott Reef, which is home to endangered whales, turtles and corals.
Traditional Owners have also threatened to take legal action against the life extension of the North West Shelf and Browse, concerned about the impact on priceless ancient rock art near the Karratha Gas Plant.
Proponents maintain gas is a critical transition fuel in the switch to renewables, and an important export to countries moving away from coal.
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