Western Australia: resource-rich state wants Browse gas processed in Kimberley region.
WA push Kimberley for Browse gas
Western Australia's Premier Colin Barnett will reportedly force the Woodside-led owners of the giant Browse liquefied natural gas project to process the gas in the Kimberley region.
According to The Australian, Barnett is unhappy that some of the Browse partners may prefer to pipe the gas to existing LNG facilities in the Pilbara region. Barnett reportedly said he would not allow it and they should "take a reality check".
"Recognise the policy position and deal with it," the newspaper quoted him as saying.
"The Browse basin is the next frontier of petroleum development in Australia. It is an extraordinarily valuable asset and it is owned by the Australian people. That gas will be developed in the north in the Kimberley region."
Barnett wants the new LNG plant built at James Price Point near Broome, which is located near the Browse basin fields, in order to create jobs and other benefits in the area.
Woodside, which has a 50% stake in the project, has said publicly its preferred location for the LNG facility is the Kimberley, but its joint venture partners - BP, Chevron, Shell and BHP Billiton - have not.
Woodside chief executive Don Voelte reportedly said there were divisions among the partners, but told the paper there was "an awful lot going on behind the scenes" to resolve them.
He predicted the Kimberley processing plant would proceed and that everyone would get on board, The Australian added.