Australia’s federal government has granted environmental approval for the North West Shelf Project extension involving natural gas and energy business Woodside and joint venture partners.
It follows requirements being met that the partners will maintain cultural heritage and air quality.
The project, in north-west Australia, has been supplying natural gas for more than 40 years, and exporting LNG to international customers, as well as powering industry and homes in the region.
The ‘extension’ relates to environmental approval for ongoing operations for the Karratha Gas Plant beyond 2030, rather than an expansion. State government approval was received in December 2024 after six years of assessment and appeals.
Liz Westcott, Woodside Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer for Australia, 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.”
In 2024, the project supplied 14% of Western Australia’s total domestic gas supply. To date, the project has delivered more than 6,500 LNG cargoes overseas.
Alongside Woodside, which is the operator with a 33.3% share, joint venture partners include BP Developments Australia, Chevron Australia, Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) and Shell Australia, who each have a 16.67% stake.
In March, Woodside signed a 15-year LNG sales and purchase agreement with China Resources Gas International.
