Woodside’s North West Shelf (NWS) Gas Project

Editor in Chief

9 months ago

Woodside’s North West Shelf Gas Project

Woodside’s North West Shelf (NWS) Gas Project is one of the largest and longest-running fossil fuel operations in Australia. Located near Karratha in Western Australia, the project consists of multiple offshore gas fields and onshore processing facilities, including the massive Karratha Gas Plant.

Originally commissioned in 1984, the NWS has already exported billions of dollars’ worth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Asia.

In May 2025, the Australian federal government approved an extension of the project’s operational life until 2070, despite mounting concerns about its environmental impact.

This decision followed the WA Environmental Protection Authority’s own review and the extension of approvals for aging infrastructure that would allow continued processing of gas, including new supplies from the nearby Browse Basin.

According to the WA Government, without its $8 billion in subsidies to the North West Shelf project, the project would not have proceeded. Its support was “massive and integral”, said Mark Ogge from The Australia Institute.

Climate experts have sounded alarms about the NWS extension, which is expected to emit up to 4.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over its lifetime—more than eight times Australia’s current annual emissions.

These emissions will come not only from gas extraction and processing but also from eventual combustion overseas.

Critics say this contradicts Australia’s net-zero by 2050 commitment and undermines global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

In addition to climate concerns, Traditional Owners and environmental groups have warned that continued industrial emissions could damage the nearby Murujuga rock art—a globally significant cultural heritage site containing some of the oldest known petroglyphs.

With full regulatory approval now in place, the project has become a flashpoint in the national debate over fossil fuel expansion versus climate responsibility.

⚠️ Climate Warning

Leading scientists, the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the UN Environment Programme warn that to meet net-zero emissions targets, new fossil fuel developments like the North West Shelf extension should not proceed. Continuing to extract and burn fossil fuels at this scale is incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

🔹 Project Name

North West Shelf (NWS) Gas Project

🔹 Owner / Operator

Operator: Woodside Energy Group Ltd
Joint Venture Partners:
- BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd
- Chevron Australia Pty Ltd
- Shell Australia Pty Ltd
- Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd
- China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)

🔹 Location

Onshore and offshore infrastructure near Karratha, Western Australia
Offshore platforms in the North Carnarvon Basin
Onshore processing at the Karratha Gas Plant on the Burrup Peninsula

🔹 Size and Value

Total investment since inception: A$25 billion+
One of Australia’s largest and longest-running gas export projects
Project extension to 2070 recently approved by the federal government

🔹 Gas Production

Current capacity: 16.3 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG
Also produces domestic gas, condensate, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
Supplies around 14% of WA’s domestic gas demand

🔹 Export vs Domestic

Primarily for export to Asian markets (Japan, Korea, China)
Includes pipeline capacity for domestic supply in Western Australia

🔹 Regulatory and Approval Status

Operations started in 1984
In May 2025, the Australian federal government approved a 40-year extension of the project, allowing it to operate until 2070
Approval has triggered strong public, legal, and academic criticism
WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has raised concerns about emissions

🔹 Contribution to Climate Change

Extension expected to emit up to 4.3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent
That’s equivalent to over eight years of Australia’s total national emissions
Critics say the approval undermines Australia’s credibility on climate targets
Murujuga’s rock art could also be affected by acid-forming industrial emissions

🔹 Local and Community Opposition

Traditional Owners: Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi peoples
Environmental Groups:
- Conservation Council of WA
- Lock the Gate
- Australian Conservation Foundation
Concerns include:
- Climate impacts
- Air pollution near ancient Murujuga rock art
- Failure to assess full life-cycle emissions
- Cultural heritage degradation

🔹 Company Website

Woodside Energy – North West Shelf