(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors - Australia) Woodside Petroleum's (ASX: WPL) proposed Browse Liquefied Natural Gas project has taken another step forward, albeit with additional conditions laid on by Western Australian Environment Minister Bill Marmion.
Marmion had in his determination of appeals received against the project, imposed additional conditions on the project, adding to the demands on the $40 billion project.
These include:
- Improving knowledge of and strengthening protection for marine fauna off the Kimberley coast, in particular whales, dugongs, dolphins, turtles and sawfish;
- reducing the impact of any activity on monsoon vine thickets;
- enhanced protection of dinosaur tracks; and
- better addressing the risk of pollution from oil spills and air emissions.
Marmion also called on the Woodside led project to increase its engagement with Traditional Owners and Native Title claimants.
Despite the added weight on Woodside, the determination is also a blow for the project's detractors who have sought to stop it from going ahead, as it clears the way for the Minister to make a final decision on the project.
Browse LNG envisions a 12 million tonne per annum LNG with a liquefaction plant sited at James Price Point north of Broome with gas drawn from the Brecknock, Calliance and Torosa gas condensate fields 425 kilometres north of Broome.
The James Price Point development is also seen as an LNG hub that could potentially draw gas from third party gas fields, whether offshore or onshore, to feed the Browse LNG project or other potential projects that choose to be sited there.
A Final Investment Decision for Browse LNG is expected in the first half of 2013.
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