Green tick for major gas plant expansion despite fears
The expansion of a large gas development cleared the last regulatory obstacle despite the violent opposition of some traditional owners.
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt officially approved the 40 -year extension of Woodside ‘North -West Shelf Project and applied 48 conditions to the gas center to protect the ancient rock art nearby.
Local local groups argue that the expansion of the site in the Pilbara region of Western Australia may damage the 40,000 -year -old Murujuga Petroglifs, one of the world’s largest and most diverse rock engravings collections.
Environmental defenders and some Pacific leaders, criticizing the North West Shelf extension, he said he could lock more than four billion tons of climate pollution.
The Federal Government insists that it can protect the environment and rock art while supporting the gas project -related tasks.
In May, the extension of the North -West Shelf Project was pre -approved and allowed Woodsis to continue to process oil and gas by 2070.
The final project approval will change the conditions applied to the well and processing facilities network.
The Federal Government said that new restrictions are more specific than pre -approval.
In accordance with the government’s restrictions, Woodside will have to reduce the emissions of certain gases from the field up to 60 percent.
Senator Watt also brought extra legal protections to Murujuga Rock Art.
Murujuga traditional detention Raelene Cooper said that if the government greened the project, it would be at risk of international legal proceedings to threaten the inheritance status of rock art.
In addition, Australia would weaken the stance of the Pacific neighbors and undermine Prime Minister Anthony Albania in the face of the Chinese pressure on the Pacific Islands Forum at the beginning of the week.
“We all ask the same question in Australia and Pacific – What is this government doing?” he said.
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