Woodside has been made aware that the Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) has launched a court action attacking approvals that provide significant benefits to all Australians.
Almost eighteen months after the receipt of environmental approvals to process gas at our North West Shelf and Pluto LNG facilities, the CCWA has decided to serve notice on the state government and Woodside of a legal challenge in the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
The gas to be processed would deliver cleaner energy for customers in Western Australia and overseas. It would provide thousands of jobs for Western Australians, tax revenue to state and federal governments and opportunities for local businesses.
Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said that at all times Woodside has complied with regulatory requirements and environmental processes in seeking and receiving approvals.
“We intend to vigorously defend our position. The CCWA is resorting to a legal challenge a year and a half after the approvals were granted. Their action will cost taxpayers money and flies in the face of the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) independent assessment.
“We strongly support the state government’s and the EPA’s processes,” he said.
Mr Coleman added: “With regards to the emissions figures being quoted by the CCWA, they are highly misleading as, in reality, the use of our gas instead of other fossil fuels reduces carbon emissions.
“The facts are contained in the extensive publicly available documentation which Woodside has provided to support our projects.”
A report prepared by consultants ERM and critically reviewed by CSIRO, found that for every 1 tonne of CO2-e emitted by the proposed Burrup Hub projects over 2026-2040, 4 tonnes of emissions could be avoided globally.
Woodside has also set corporate targets to support its aspiration to reach net zero in its direct emissions by 2050 or sooner.
