The Australian government has given the final approval for the controversial North West Shelf Project Extension, greenlighting to 2070 continued operation of the country’s first and largest gas processing plant.

In a media statement published on 12 September 2025, Australia’s federal Environment Minister Murray Watt confirmed having imposed 48 strict conditions to “avoid and mitigate significant impacts” to the World Heritage listed Murujuga rock art, which forms part of Western Australia’s Dampier Archipelago. These conditions add to those already set by the Western Australian Government.

The plant, which has been active since 1984, is operated by Australia’s leading gas producer Woodside, and is situated in Karratha, Western Australia. In terms of the approval, Woodside and its partners will continue to deliver gas using existing infrastructure.

The Environment Minister stated that the imposed conditions will “ensure that this project will be operated in a way that does not cause unacceptable impacts to the Murujuga rock art, in compliance with federal environmental law, including restricting air emissions which otherwise could have accelerated damage.”

Specifically, the conditions require a reduction in certain gas emissions below their current levels, in some cases by 60 percent by 2030, with ongoing reductions beyond that. Woodside will also be required to comply with any air quality objectives and standards arising from ongoing research conducted by the Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program (MRAMP).

Other conditions include compliance with the WA Government’s requirement to prepare a new Air Quality Management Plan, and establishing a robust and continuous emissions monitoring system with associated annual reporting.

The project will be required to reduce its emissions every year and reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 under the Albanese Government’s strengthened Safeguard Mechanism.

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