THE WOODSIDE North West shelf gas project has been given the final go-ahead, extending its operation life to 2070.
The federal government approval comes with 48 strict conditions, primarily aimed at protecting 60,000-year-old rock art in the Murujuga region of the Pilbara.
The project which has already contributed more than $40 billion in royalties and taxes since operations began in 1984. Is Australia’s biggest gas project.
The approval has been welcomed by Woodside and North West Shelf Joint Venture.
Woodside Executive Vice President and COO Australia, Liz Westcott, said in a media release that the final Australian government approval followed an extensive assessment and appeal process and included rigorous conditions to manage the protection of cultural heritage.
“This final approval provides certainty for the ongoing operation of the North West Shelf Project, so it can continue to provide reliable energy supplies as it has for more than 40 years.”
Ms Westcott said it had contributed well over $300 million to communities in the Pilbara through social investment initiatives and infrastructure support.
The Australian Government approval includes conditions that require additional monitoring and management of air emissions to protect the Dampier Archipelago (including Burrup Peninsula) National Heritage Place.
“Woodside remains committed to protecting the Murujuga Cultural Landscape and was a proud supporter of the World Heritage nomination and assessment process. The North West Shelf Project has supplied more than 6000 petajoules of domestic gas, powering homes and industry in Western Australia. If used just for household electricity, this is enough to power homes in a city the size of Perth for approximately 175 years.”