Net zero emissions imposed on Woodside’s Pluto LNG project

The Western Australian government has imposed a net zero emissions condition on approval of Woodside Petroleum’s proposed expansion of the Pluto LNG project on the Burrup Peninsula near Dampier.

The ruling follows advice to the government from the Environmental Protection Authority and imposes the emissions requirement on the existing Pluto LNG plant as well as the proposed second train which is part of the plan for development of Scarborough field.

Woodside has agreed to the requirements and will need to cut emissions from Pluto by 30% by 2030 to reach net zero by 2050. The company is targeting final investment decision on the project by yearend.

The new requirements are in line with the State government’s greenhouse gas emissions policy for major projects.

Acting chief executive Meg O’Neill said Scarborough has a very low carbon dioxide content and is a resource well suited to low cost, low carbon development.

The emission targets are the first for Woodside specific to a production project as opposed to those applied at the corporate level.