Australia Approves North West Shelf Gas Plant Operation Until 2070

Australia's government has granted final approval for Woodside Energy's North West Shelf gas plant in Western Australia to operate until 2070, extending the facility's life by four decades. Environment Minister Murray Watt imposed 48 strict conditions to protect 60,000-year-old Indigenous rock art in the Pilbara region, including requirements to reduce certain gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The approval follows nearly seven years of legal challenges, environmental opposition, and consultations, highlighting the project's central role in Australia's energy transition debate. Woodside's extension includes plans to activate new offshore supplies, such as the dormant Browse project, despite concerns over the plant's potential to generate up to 4.3 billion metric tons of carbon emissions over its lifetime. The government emphasized balancing energy needs with cultural heritage preservation as part of the decision. This extension solidifies the role of natural gas within Australia's energy mix for decades to come.