Scarborough Gas Project & Pluto Train 2 – Western Australia
The Scarborough Gas Project and Pluto Train 2 represent one of the most significant fossil fuel expansions currently underway in Australia. Operated by Woodside Energy, the project centres on the Scarborough gas field located approximately 375 kilometres off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia.
Gas will be transported via a 430-kilometre subsea pipeline to an expanded onshore LNG facility near Karratha, where a second processing train—Pluto Train 2—is under construction.
The entire venture is valued at US$12.5 billion and is expected to produce up to 8 million tonnes of LNG per year, with first gas scheduled to flow by late 2026.
The project has received all necessary federal and state approvals, with construction now more than 80% complete.
Environmental groups and climate scientists have warned that the Scarborough-Pluto expansion is a climate bomb in waiting.
According to analysis by Climate Analytics, the project will emit around 9.2 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent each year, and up to 1.4 billion tonnes over its lifetime when downstream combustion is included.
Critics argue that developing such large-scale fossil fuel infrastructure directly contradicts global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
Compounding the concern is the site’s proximity to Murujuga (Burrup Peninsula), home to ancient rock art at risk from industrial air pollution. Despite legal challenges and widespread public opposition, Woodside has pushed ahead—making this project a key battleground in Australia’s climate policy debate.
Doctors Take Woodside’s Scarborough Gas Approval to Court in Landmark Climate and Health Case
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) has cleared a critical legal hurdle in its test case against the controversial Scarborough Gas Project, after the Federal Court ruled that their challenge can proceed with a capped financial risk.
On June 7, 2025, the court granted a “maximum costs order” limiting the amount that Woodside and the offshore regulator NOPSEMA can seek from DEA to $80,000, even if the doctors lose their case. This decision allows DEA to move forward with a judicial review of NOPSEMA’s approval of the project’s environmental plan, with hearings set for July 14 and 15.
The case marks a rare and high-profile legal challenge to the regulatory process behind one of Australia’s largest fossil fuel developments. According to DEA’s Executive Director Dr Kate Wylie, “The Scarborough Gas Project will result in the release of about 878 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere, adding to the immense health burden climate change is already putting on the community.”
DEA contends that NOPSEMA’s approval of Woodside’s environment plan was unlawful because it relied on vague and insufficient commitments to manage greenhouse gas emissions, falling short of legal requirements.
Backed by the Environmental Defenders Office, DEA argues that this case is about more than carbon—it’s about health, democracy, and whether regulators are doing their job.
“Fossil-fuel-induced climate change is already hurting people and making them sick,” Wylie said. “As clinicians, we are treating the impacts of climate on health in our daily work—from heat stress and mental health decline to food insecurity and floods.”
Scarborough Gas Project Overview
- Owner/Operator: Woodside Energy Group Ltd. is the operator and holds a 51% stake in Pluto Train 2. Global Infrastructure Partners owns the remaining 49%.
- Location: The Scarborough gas field lies about 375 km off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia, in the Carnarvon Basin.
- Offshore Status: Yes – offshore gas field, not connected to the Great Artesian Basin.
- Project Value: Estimated at US$12.5 billion.
- Infrastructure: A 430-kilometre pipeline will connect the gas field to an expanded LNG processing facility near Karratha. This includes Pluto Train 2, an additional “train” (processing unit) at the existing Pluto LNG facility.
- Production Capacity: Expected to produce up to 8 million tonnes of LNG per year – 5 Mtpa through Pluto Train 2, and the remainder via Pluto Train 1.
- Export vs. Domestic Use: Primarily for export to Asia (Japan, Korea), though there is capacity to deliver 225 terajoules per day into the WA domestic gas market.
- Project Timeline: The project is approximately 80% complete and scheduled to begin operating by late 2026. Final Investment Decision (FID) was made in November 2021.
Environmental and Social Concerns
- Carbon Emissions: According to Climate Analytics, the Scarborough-Pluto expansion would create approximately 9.2 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent each year, making it a major contributor to Australia’s national emissions. Independent analyses have placed lifetime emissions in the range of 1.3–1.4 billion tonnes.
- Cultural Heritage Impact: The onshore processing facility is located near Murujuga (the Burrup Peninsula), home to over one million petroglyphs, some dating back 50,000 years. Environmental groups argue that industrial emissions threaten this irreplaceable cultural heritage.
- Community Groups: The project has faced strong opposition from environmental advocates including the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), Conservation Council of WA, and Traditional Owner representatives.
- Legal and Protest Action: Though major legal challenges have failed, campaigners continue to raise awareness about the impacts of the development on both the climate and cultural heritage.
Scarborough Gas Project Regulatory Approvals
- Environmental Approvals: The Scarborough-Pluto Train 2 project has federal and state government approval, with environmental sign-off granted in 2022.
- Current Status: All major approvals secured; construction and commissioning well underway.
Company Information
- Woodside Energy Group Ltd.: Australia’s largest independent oil and gas company. For more information, visit the official project page.
The Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 expansion is one of Australia’s largest fossil fuel developments underway—emitting millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide annually at a time when scientists warn we must urgently phase out gas. Its location near sacred rock art, and its sheer scale, has made it a flashpoint in the national debate over energy, climate, and heritage.
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