Important step: says Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett
Woodside strikes initial deal on LNG hub
Woodside Petroleum has signed a preliminary agreement with the government of Western Australia for the development of a liquefied natural gas processing precinct at James Price Point in the state's north-west.
The government said today that the agreement will accelerate key studies and planning into the project and will see Woodside appointed as the foundation commercial proponent for the precinct.
"This agreement is an important step in securing a development which could bring hundreds of long-term jobs, millions of investment dollars and long-term economic diversification," Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett said in a statement, reported the Dow Jones.
Woodside plans to pipe gas from the giant Browse gas field to James Price Point in the Kimberley region for processing.
However, its partners at Browse, including Chevron and BHP Billiton, are not convinced this is the best option and instead favor piping gas to the North West Shelf processing facilities in the Pilbara region to the south.