‘Unacceptable’: Woodside faces big Environmental Protection Authority hurdles to clear controversial Browse

[Pelican Press 0]

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‘Unacceptable’: Woodside faces big Environmental Protection Authority hurdles to clear controversial Browse

Woodside Energy’s multibillion-dollar Browse LNG project off WA’s North West runs the risk of being rejected if it fails to appease the State’s environmental watchdog, which has raised concerns about the development’s impact on local marine life and a coral reef.

It was revealed on Monday that the Environmental Protection Authority sent a letter to the Perth-based oil and gas giant that said it had formed the preliminary view that “the proposal was unacceptable”,

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The oil fields, which lie 450km north of Broome, would be tapped through two floating production, storage and offloading facilities and connected via a 900km pipeline to the existing North West Shelf gas plant at Karratha to deliver 11.4 million tonnes of LNG a year.

Its development would come at a crucial time for Australia, which needs new projects to come on line to meet expected shortfalls in supply.

The EPA is not set to present its draft report on Browse until next year, but its future ultimately ***** in the hands of State and Federal government ministers who will need to balance the needs of sovereign energy security against environmental concerns.

Activists have already warned drilling for Browse risks affecting whale migration routes, local turtle populations and damage to the nearby Scott coral reef.

WA Premier Roger Cook described Browse as a “difficult and complex” project, but conversations would continue between Woodside and the EPA about addressing “issues of concern”.

“It’s not surprising that Browse proponents, primarily Woodside and the EPA, are continuing to talk about how they mitigate against the impact of any environmental issues,” he said.

“The EPA are there to assess these projects and make sure that we can mitigate against any negative impacts on the environment, and that’s why they are obviously in deep discussions with the government in relation to that project.

“In relation to that project, we want it to go ahead — Browse would be an important part of not only Western Australia’s gas supply, but making sure that we can assist our southeast ****** and North ****** partners to decarbonise their economies.”

Woodside has been contacted for comment.

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