The Western Australian Government has issued environmental approval for the North West Shelf Project Extension offshore/onshore North West Australia.

According to operator Woodside Energy, it follows a six year-process of assessment and appeals.

The state’s decision allows recommencement of the federal environmental approvals process, which was put on hold while the appeals were considered.

Liz Westcott, Woodside Executive Vice President and COO Australia, said the state’s decision represented an important step to secure long-term processing of North West Shelf Joint Venture offshore field resources and third-party gas resources through the onshore Karratha gas plant.

This year marks 40 years of domestic gas production through Karratha and 35 years of LNG exports.

As part of the approval, the joint venture partners committed to various environmental management measures, including a reduction in air emissions such as oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds and other measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over time.