JPP LNG facility remains a possibility

The development of an LNG facility at Western Australia’s James Price Point has been conditionally approved by a panel of three independent delegates, tasked by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

An assessment of the proposed Browse LNG precinct at James Price Point by the delegates has recommended that the strategic proposal for an LNG hub at the site may be implemented in the future, subject to 28 conditions.

The implementation conditions would be imposed on any future development at the site.

Chairman Gerard Early, Dr Tom Hatton and Glen McLeod assessed the Minister for State Development’s strategic proposal to designate a common-user LNG precinct to process up to 50 MMt/a of gas from the Browse Basin near James Price Point in the Kimberley.

The Delegates were tasked with assessing the proposal after the Supreme Court of WA found the EPA’a July 2012 report was invalid and that there had been no valid assessment under the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

Mr Early said the strategic proposal identified port facilities, shipping channels, LNG processing facilities, pipeline crossings, infrastructure, a light industrial area, roads and worker accommodation area.

“The Delegates undertook the environmental impact assessment of the Browse LNG strategic proposal with fresh eyes, examining every part of this project thoroughly and methodically,” Mr Early said.

“Following a review of all the technical and scientific information available, including the proponent’s strategic assessment report and all public submissions, as well as a site visit to James Price Point late last year where we met with representatives from the community, we have recommended a number of implementation conditions be imposed should future proposals identified in the strategic proposal be approved by the Minister for Environment.”

After originally proposing a Browse LNG Development near James Price Point, Western Australia, Woodside determined that the development concept did not meet the company’s commercial requirements for a positive final investment decision in April 2013 and settled on a floating LNG (FLNG) development concept.

The Browse FLNG Project is currently in the FEED phase, with a final investment decision (FID) expected in 2016.

 

Source: Gas Today