Woodside Wins Approval for $12.5 Billion Scarborough Project After Green Group Backs Down
(Reuters) — Woodside's $12.5 billion Scarborough gas project in Western Australia has all primary environmental approvals in place, the firm said on Monday, after a green group agreed to dismiss its challenge in a federal court.
Shares of the energy company gained as much as 1.3% to A$26.45 during the day against a 0.3% slip in the broader energy index .AXEJ.
The Australian Conservation Foundation had in June, 2022 asked the country's Federal Court to stop Woodside from working on the Scarborough gas project until an assessment is made about its potential impact on the Great Barrier Reef.
The ACF said in a statement on Monday it would not proceed with the legal case against the project any more as it became apparent that it was "unlikely to succeed."
"The reality is that Australia’s laws work in favor of fossil fuel interests. There is still no explicit requirement for climate damage to be considered under our key national nature law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act," the green group said.
Woodside said the parties had agreed to seek order from the Federal Court to dismiss the proceedings against the company.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) had earlier argued that the Scarborough project should be evaluated under that law because it will have a significant impact on the Great Barrier Reef, as the exported gas burned in other countries will worsen global warming.
"The Scarborough reservoir contains less than 0.1% carbon dioxide and combined with processing design efficiencies will be one of the lowest carbon intensity sources of LNG delivered into north Asian markets," Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said on Monday.
Analysts have flagged that Scarborough's commissioning is a key growth catalyst for Woodside after it has been targeted by numerous climate activists amid the world's shift to cleaner forms of energy.
The ACF is also currently embroiled in a similar legal case with coal miner Whitehaven, which is set for hearing in 2025.
Related News
Related News

- Kinder Morgan Proposes 290-Mile Gas Pipeline Expansion Spanning Three States
- Three Killed, Two Injured in Accident at LNG Construction Site in Texas
- Tallgrass to Build New Permian-to-Rockies Pipeline, Targets 2028 Startup with 2.4 Bcf Capacity
- TC Energy Approves $900 Million Northwoods Pipeline Expansion for U.S. Midwest
- U.S. Moves to Block Enterprise Products’ Exports to China Over Security Risk
- U.S. Pipeline Expansion to Add 99 Bcf/d, Mostly for LNG Export, Report Finds
- Enbridge Adds Turboexpanders at Pipeline Sites to Power Data Centers in Canada, Pennsylvania
- Great Basin Gas Expansion Draws Strong Shipper Demand in Northern Nevada
- Cheniere Seeks FERC Approval to Expand Sabine Pass LNG Facility
- Heath Consultants Exits Locate Business to Expand Methane Leak Detection Portfolio
Comments