The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) has welcomed a review of conditions to control greenhouse gas pollution from Chevron’s Wheatstone LNG project - Western Australia’s largest pollution source – saying the review is a potential win for jobs and the environment.
Chevron's Wheatstone LNG Project, Talandji WA CREDIT: Google
The review will be undertaken by the EPA under the Environmental Protection Act and has been triggered by a request from Environment Minister Stephen Dawson.
When fully operational the Wheatstone LNG plant will emit up to 10 million tonnes of CO2, accounting for nearly 12% of WA’s total carbon pollution. This makes the Wheatstone facility an even larger polluter than Chevron’s Gorgon LNG plant on Barrow Island, where it was recently revealed that problems would result in an extra 5 million tonnes of carbon pollution.
At the request of Chevron, conditions requiring the company to reduce and offset pollution from the Wheatstone facility were removed under the Barnett Government, against the advice of the EPA and independent experts.
Review welcomed
CCWA Director Piers Verstegen welcomed the news, calling on Chevron to cooperate with the review which has the potential to deliver significant new jobs and investment in WA.
“To have WA’s largest climate polluter operating with no controls on its pollution is simply not acceptable.
“The removal of these conditions meant that Western Australia lost a significant opportunity for jobs and investment in carbon farming and other clean technology.
“We look forward to the EPA taking a science-based position on this matter, and once again advising that carbon pollution conditions are necessary for this incredibly polluting facility.
Opportunity for jobs in regional WA
“Requirements for Chevron to offset pollution from its WA LNG operations will not only help to address massive environmental problem, but will drive a significant expansion of the carbon farming industry. This means more jobs in regional areas and more value captured for our state.
Chevron called on to cooperate
“Chevron pays no royalties to the WA Government and pays little to no tax to the Commonwealth.
“Chevron cannot simply take all the profits from LNG developments offshore and leave WA taxpayers with the pollution problem.
“We call on Chevron to live up to its claims about being a good corporate citizen, by cooperating with this review rather than seeking to block action on climate change and pollution like it has in the past.”