WA Gas Project Decision Looms After 8 Years: $30B Offshore Stake At Risk

Woodside Energy is awaiting a final decision on its $30 billion Browse gas project off the coast of Western Australia, marking the end of an eight-year regulatory process. The project, located in the Browse Basin approximately 425 kilometers offshore from Broome, represents the largest untapped gas reserve in Australia.

The development is designed to produce 11.4 million tonnes of gas annually. Woodside intends for the project to supply its North West Shelf Karratha Gas Plant, a strategic move aimed at extending the operational lifespan of the existing facility.

The project has faced prolonged scrutiny from both state and federal regulators due to its location beneath a large coral reef system. Approval is required from the Western Australian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for activities in state waters and from the federal government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act for those in Commonwealth waters.

Environmental concerns center on the potential impact on the ecosystems and corals at Scott Reef and Sandy Islet. Regulators have specifically highlighted risks to the nesting populations of green sea turtles and the migration patterns of pygmy blue whales.

The regulatory path has been inconsistent. In February 2024, the Western Australian EPA issued a preliminary view that the proposal was unacceptable based on the projected environmental damage.

Following this preliminary rejection, Woodside sought to modify the project to lower the environmental risk. In May 2025, the company requested that the energy regulator allow changes to the proposed development, prompting a new period of public consultation by the EPA.

The project’s viability is a point of contention between environmental mandates and energy security goals. Western Australia Premier Roger Cook has expressed hope that the project remains viable to ensure a domestic gas supply for the state and to maintain liquid natural gas exports to Asian markets.

The EPA are there to assess these projects and make sure that we can mitigate against any negative impacts on the environment.

Roger Cook, Premier of Western Australia

Federal oversight involves Environment Minister Murray Watt and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. The federal decision will hinge on whether the project can meet the stringent requirements of the EPBC Act, particularly regarding the protection of endangered marine species and critical habitats.

The timeline for the Browse project has extended significantly since its initial submission in 2018. Woodside originally slated operations to begin in 2030, with a planned operational window of up to 44 years in the Torosa gas field.

The financial implications of a rejection would be substantial, given the $30 billion valuation of the development. A final negative decision from the EPA would disrupt the broader strategy to secure gas supplies through 2050.

Current discussions between Woodside and the EPA focus on mitigation strategies to protect the Browse Basin’s biodiversity. The company must demonstrate that the modified proposal sufficiently reduces the risk to the marine environment to move past the preliminary unacceptable rating.

The outcome of this decision will establish a precedent for large-scale gas extractions in environmentally sensitive offshore areas in Australia. The final determination will depend on whether the economic benefits of domestic energy security and export revenue outweigh the documented ecological risks to the Kimberley coast’s marine life.