News of further delays to Kerry Stokes’ Beach Energy project has sparked renewed outrage at the exemption allowing the media mogul to export gas out of the Western Australian domestic market through Woodside’s North West Shelf (NWS) facility.
Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) Executive Director Matt Roberts said it was an “outrageous situation”.
“Western Australians are once again getting ripped off, while billionaires and multinational corporations profit from the export of planet-warming fossil gas,” Mr Roberts said.
“Woodside says its NWS gas project will help WA keep the lights on — but in reality, this is an export project that will take more out of the domestic market than it puts back in. The plant itself uses more gas to operate on an annual basis than the amount supplied into the WA market.
“It makes a mockery of the ongoing cries by Woodside, the state and federal governments, and the fossil fuel industry that increased gas production and the extension of the NWS facility are both vital for WA’s ongoing energy security and economic wealth.
It’s clear that none of this is based in fact. This is about meeting export obligations and shareholder profits, with complete disregard for the local market – the gas industry is taking us for fools. In Japan, they’re actually on-selling WA gas for a profit.
“When former Premier Mark McGowan approved the Waitsia project in 2020, he said it would stimulate the economy and supply gas for the domestic market. But the project is yet to be realised, and Beach Energy is sucking up gas from the domestic market and sending it to international buyers.
“We are falling behind other states on climate action.
“These latest revelations add insult to injury, after the Waitsia project was given a special exemption in 2020 to export onshore gas previously reserved for WA homes and businesses.
“The gas industry wields significant influence over our media and government in WA and is holding our state back from making progress towards climate-saving clean energy transition.
“Rather than doubling down on fossil fuels, we should be investing in renewable energy technology, for the sake of our climate and future economy.
“We could be a world leader in renewables, if our government was willing to show some leadership and stop letting the oil and gas industry call the shots.