Kalkine: Woodside Granted Extra Time to Review North West Shelf Expansion Terms

June 12, 2025 10:11 PM PDT | By Team Kalkine Media

Kalkine: Woodside Granted Extra Time to Review North West Shelf Expansion Terms — Image source: Shutterstock

Extension of a Vital Energy Asset

The North West Shelf project is a key component of Australia’s LNG infrastructure. In late May, Environment Minister Murray Watt provided preliminary environmental approval for extending the facility’s operations from 2030 to 2070. However, the approval is subject to conditions, particularly regarding emissions that could affect nearby Murujuga rock art—an ancient and culturally rich heritage site.

Originally, Woodside had 10 business days to review and respond to these proposed conditions. This timeframe has now been extended to allow more in-depth consultation. The exact terms of the proposed conditions remain undisclosed, although they focus on mitigating air emissions that may impact the sacred site.

Cultural and Environmental Considerations

The Murujuga rock art—believed to be among the oldest and most significant petroglyphs globally—is under consideration for World Heritage listing. A draft decision from UNESCO recently expressed hesitation to advance this listing, citing potential environmental risks from industrial activities in the region.

Minister Watt emphasized the importance of cultural preservation during the preliminary announcement, stating that “adequate protection for the rock art is central” to the decision. This highlights the government’s intent to strike a balance between economic imperatives and cultural responsibility.

Collaborative Dialogue Underway

In response to the updated timeline, Woodside noted that both the company and the North West Shelf Joint Venture partners are engaged in ongoing discussions with the federal authorities. Their shared aim is to align the project’s future with national environmental expectations.

The Western Australian government had already granted environmental approval in December 2024 following a comprehensive six-year review and appeal process. That state-level greenlight was a major milestone, but federal alignment remains critical for the project's full progression.

With the extension granted, the stage is set for continued dialogue that may shape the future of one of Australia’s cornerstone gas infrastructure assets. The outcome could also influence how similar projects navigate environmental and cultural sensitivities moving forward.

Disclaimer

The content, including but not limited to any articles, news, quotes, information, data, text, reports, ratings, opinions, images, photos, graphics, graphs, charts, animations and video (Content) is a service of Kalkine Media LLC (Kalkine Media, we or us) and is available for personal and non-commercial use only. The principal purpose of the Content is to educate and inform. The Content does not contain or imply any recommendation or opinion intended to influence your financial decisions and must not be relied upon by you as such. Some of the Content on this website may be sponsored/non-sponsored, as applicable, but is NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold the stocks of the company(s) or engage in any investment activity under discussion. Kalkine Media is neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice through this platform. Users should make their own enquiries about any investments and Kalkine Media strongly suggests the users to seek advice from a financial adviser, stockbroker or other professional (including taxation and legal advice), as necessary. Kalkine Media hereby disclaims any and all the liabilities to any user for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising from any use of the Content on this website, which is provided without warranties. The views expressed in the Content by the guests, if any, are their own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Kalkine Media. Some of the images/music that may be used on this website are copyright to their respective owner(s). Kalkine Media does not claim ownership of any of the pictures/music displayed/used on this website unless stated otherwise. The images/music that may be used on this website are taken from various sources on the internet, including paid subscriptions or are believed to be in public domain. We have used reasonable efforts to accredit the source (public domain/CC0 status) to where it was found and indicated it, as necessary.