UNIONS and environmental groups are calling for a decommissioning hub to be built in Western Australia to manage the state’s growing number of retired offshore oil and gas infrastructure.
A collaboration between Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Unions WA, Conservation Council WA, Maritime Union of Australia - WA Branch, The Wilderness Society, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union - WA Branch, Electrical Trades Union - WA Branch, have produced a report they say would create jobs, protect marine ecosystems and recycle materials if a hub was built in WA.
The ‘WA Can’t Wait’ report recommends a nation-first decommissioning hub be built in WA near current fossil fuel infrastructure and where green recycling facilities can be established.
It suggests oil and gas operators should bear the cost of the hub and that existing laws be strengthened and enforced to ensure a full and timely decommissioning.
The report called for the safety of workers and the environment to be prioritised and investment in ports, recycling facilities and local workforces be increased to support decommissioning and emerging offshore wind and other renewable energy industries.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific WA campaign lead, Geoff Bice said 89% of Australia’s 5.7 million tonnes of offshore oil and gas infrastructure is in West Australian waters.
“A decommissioning hub is WA-positive, and the industry should foot the bill for their own mess. This isn’t just a clean-up plan, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a world-leading industry,” Mr Bice said.
Rikki Hendon, UnionsWA secretary, said oil and gas infrastructure off Western Australia’s coastline had to be decommissioned at the end of its life and it was work that could be done properly, safely, and locally.
“The opportunity to create thousands of secure jobs here in WA by putting in place a local decommissioning hub is right in front of us. We have the people, we have the industrial capacity, and we have the know-how,” he said.
With 50% of Australia’s offshore oil and gas infrastructure due to be decommissioned by 2030 and most of it is in WA the Conservation Council’s Matt Roberts said it was critical that companies were held to account to deliver on their environmental responsibilities.
“There are also huge opportunities for new jobs in decommissioning and metals recycling. These are the jobs of the future that will help us transition to renewable energy," he said.
Maritime Union of Australia WA secretary, Will Tracey said the union welcomed what he said was a practical, worker and community-focused contribution to solving a national decommissioning bottleneck.
He was critical of the federal government’s decision to tow the Northern Endeavour and 40,000 tonnes of recyclable steel to Europe instead of backing local yards and local jobs.
“It’s time for the government to act on what workers and communities are calling for: full removal, local recycling, and a Future Made in Australia that starts in WA.”
The recycling theme was picked up by Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union WA secretary Steve McCartney who believed Western Australia had an opportunity to develop a circular economy in steel production, using the decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure as a feedstock for green steel recycling onshore.
"Not only would this help stand up green steel projects in the South West, it would provide long-term and stable onshore demand so we never see another debacle like the Northern Endeavour work being stolen from Australian workers ever again."
The report release follows recent revelations that Australian taxpayers are potentially facing a $500 million clean-up bill, part of an estimated $2.3 billion total cost for decommissioning Chevron’s ageing oil and gas infrastructure in WA waters.
It also follows safety regulator NOPSEMA’s criticism of Woodside’s decommissioning work at several offshore oil and gas fields.