WA:Wheatstone project approved in WA

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2011
WA:Wheatstone project approved in WA

PERTH, Aug 31 AAP - The West Australian government has given final environmental approval
for the $25 billion Chevron-led Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the
state's northwest.

WA Environment Minister Bill Marmion says approval has been granted with 25 conditions
protecting marine fauna, including whales, turtles and dugongs.

The proposed LNG plant with a projected capacity of 25 million tonnes per annum will
be built 12km south of Onslow in the Pilbara.

"The state government will continue to ensure the highest environmental standards are
applied to project the local community and its environment," Mr Marmion said in a statement.

"This is a huge development for Western Australia.

"At its peak, the construction workforce for Wheatstone is expected to reach 3000 people,
in addition to a further 3500 indirect jobs and billions of dollars in locally purchased
goods and services," the minister said.

The environmental conditions stipulate immediate suspension of dredging if coral outside
defined zones was damaged, no night blasting during peak nesting and hatching seasons
for marine turtles and no piling work at night during the southern whale migration.

The approval also requires $13 million in environmental offsets, including $3.5 million
over four years to improve management of critical habitats for humpback whales, dugongs
and snubfin dolphins in Pilbara waters.

It also requires reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through offsetting about 2.6
million tonnes per year of reservoir carbon dioxide emissions.

Chevron Australia Pty Ltd Managing Director Roy Krzywosinski on Wednesday welcomed
the approval and said the company looked forward to a environmental approval from the
federal government.

A final investment decision on the project is expected later this year.

The Wheatstone onshore foundation project is a joint venture between the Australian
subsidiaries of Chevron (73.6 per cent), Apache (13 per cent), Kuwait Foreign Petroleum
Exploration Company (7 per cent) and Shell (6.4 per cent).

AAP ldj/dep

KEYWORD: WHEATSTONE

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.