The Australian federal government has given final approval for the country's largest gas project to continue operating until 2070, a significant extension of its previous 2030 license expiry. The decision affects the Woodside North West Shelf project in Western Australia and has been met with both strong support from industry and fierce criticism from environmental groups and Indigenous leaders. The approval, granted by Environment Minister Murray Watt, includes 48 strict conditions aimed at mitigating environmental damage and protecting ancient Aboriginal rock art.
The extension is viewed by the Australian energy sector as a vital step to ensure energy security and provide a reliable supply of gas for both domestic use and export. Proponents, including Woodside Energy and Australian Energy Producers, argue that gas has a crucial role to play in the transition to net zero, acting as a backup for a grid with increasing reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar. They contend that the project, which has been in operation for over 40 years, will continue to contribute billions of dollars in royalties, support thousands of jobs, and power homes and industries across the country.
On the other side of the debate, the decision has been condemned as a "carbon bomb" and a "climate fail." Environmental groups like the Australian Conservation Foundation and Greenpeace have slammed the approval, arguing it is completely incompatible with Australia's and the world's climate goals. They highlight that the project's lifetime emissions, including those from exported gas, are estimated to be more than 13 times Australia's total annual emissions. Climate experts have also warned that approving such a long term fossil fuel project undermines Australia's credibility on the international stage, especially with its Pacific neighbors who are highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather.
The approval also raises significant concerns about cultural heritage. The North West Shelf project is located near the Murujuga rock art complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site with over a million petroglyphs, some dating back 50,000 years. Indigenous traditional custodians and leaders have expressed fears that industrial emissions from the gas plant could accelerate the degradation of this irreplaceable cultural landscape. While the approval includes conditions to limit emissions and implement a Cultural Heritage Management Plan, some Indigenous and climate groups argue that it is not enough to prevent "unacceptable impacts" on the site.
The extension of this major gas project until 2070 represents a pivotal and highly contentious moment in Australia's climate policy. It underscores the deep divide between the nation's economic reliance on fossil fuels and its commitments to climate action. For supporters, the project is a bridge to a cleaner energy future; for critics, it is a dangerous step backward that locks in decades of carbon pollution and threatens both the environment and ancient cultural heritage.
