THE AUSTRALIAN Conservation Foundation’s (ACF) Federal Court challenge to stop offshore activities for Woodside’s Scarborough Energy Project has been dismissed.
ACF has agreed to dismiss the challenge to a primary environmental approval for Woodside’s Scarborough Energy Project which has all primary environmental approvals in place and offshore work is under way.
The Federal Court proceedings sought an injunction to stop offshore activities for the Scarborough Energy Project, but both parties have agreed to seek orders from the court to dismiss the proceedings.
In a media release issued by Woodside, CEO Meg O’Neill said it was a good result.
“Litigation against energy projects like Scarborough is an ineffective way to pursue solutions to global climate and energy challenges,” Ms O’Neill said.
“Such approaches create needless uncertainty for businesses, communities and the people who depend on the energy these projects produce.
“The Scarborough reservoir contains less than 0.1% carbon dioxide and combined with processing design efficiencies will be one of the lowest carbon intensity sources of LNG delivered into north Asian markets.
“The Scarborough Energy Project will make an important contribution to energy security in Western Australia while providing energy to Asian economies as they decarbonise.
“The project is supported by and aligns with the energy policies of both the Australian and Western Australian Governments.”
The release said the Scarborough Energy Project has been the subject of rigorous environmental assessments by regulators including the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority; the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; the Western Australian Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety; the Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority.
The ACF, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office, began the Federal Court of Australia proceedings in relation to the offshore environmental assessment of the Scarborough Energy Project in June 2022.
The Scarborough Energy Project comprises the Scarborough Joint Venture, the Pluto Train 2 Joint Venture and modifications to Pluto Train 1 to process Scarborough gas. The Scarborough Energy Project was 67% complete at the end of June 2024 and is on track to deliver the first LNG cargo in 2026.
