LNG

Woodside Energy, the operator of the Australian North West Shelf and Pluto LNG export plants, has published the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the latest export proposal from Western Australia.

The EIS was drawn up on the directions of the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water .

The final EIS includes responses to comments received during the public consultation process held over an eight-week period from December 2019 to February 2020.

As operator of the proposed Browse-to-NWS Project, Woodside said it welcomed the publication of the final EIS as a milestone for the project.

The Canberra Ministry will now prepare its recommendation report and provide it to the Minister.

Liquefaction

The proposed Browse-to-NWS Project would send feed gas from fields in the offshore Browse Basin to be processed at the NWS facility's Karratha Gas Plant.

“Browse and the NWS Project Extension are expected to contribute to our communities for decades to come,” said Woodside.

“The proposed Browse-to-NWS Project could contribute to energy security in Western Australia and in the Asia-Pacific region, with production capacity of 11.4 million tonnes per year (LNG, LPG and Domestic Gas),” said the Perth-based company.

Woodside Chief Executive Meg O'Neill said moving into the assessment phase for the proposed Browse Basin project was a significant and positive step in the regulatory approval process.

The Browse Basin natural gas resources offshore Western Australia have been the subject of previous project suggestions, including floating LNG.

“The final EIS provides comprehensive detail of potential environmental impacts, proposed mitigations and management measures,” stated O’Neill.

“The processing of Browse gas through the Karratha Gas Plant could provide energy needed in Western Australia and overseas, while providing jobs and taxation revenue that support our host communities,” she explained.

Woodside noted that key work activities continued in support of progress towards front-end engineering design.

The company added that the corresponding State Environmental Review Document Response to Submissions would also be published once accepted by the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority.

Australian LNG producer Woodside is advancing with its boosted seven-Train integrated LNG and gas hub in Western Australia and with overseas projects, including its offshore Myanmar gas venture to supply Rangoon and Thailand.