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Gorgon clears environment hurdle



By Upstream staff 

Chevron has confirmed that Western Australia Environment Minister Mark McGowan has cleared the way for environmental approval to be granted to the Gorgon gas development off Western Australia.

The company said that McGowan had upheld its appeal of Western Australia Environmental Protection Authority’s June 2006 bulletin that described Chevron’s proposed 10 million tonnes per annum liquefaction plant on Barrow Island as “environmentally unacceptable”.

The Environment Minister also provided a framework for environmental conditions. These conditions as well as environmental approval from the federal minister will need to be finalised before the project can proceed.

Chevron Australia managing director Jay Johnson said: “Chevron welcomes today’s announcement which reaffirms the Gorgon participants’ belief that the project can proceed in an environmentally responsible way on Barrow Island.

“The venture participants remain committed to working with state and federal governments to ensure this nationally important project proceeds in an environmentally responsible way.”

The company said in a statement that its environmental assessment was the result of more than three years’ preparation and includes the research and contributions of more than 100 independent experts and extensive community consultation.

Gorgon is the largest upstream project ever for Chevron with reserves of more than 40 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Barrow Island is a Class A nature reserve though Chevron points out that it has already been operating the country’s largest onshore oilfield there for 40 years.


Tuesday, 12 December, 2006, 03:56 GMT  | last updated: Tuesday, 12 December, 2006, 04:03 GMT

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