Australia: Chevron Welcomes EPA Report on Wheatstone LNG

Chevron Australia Pty Ltd today welcomed the release of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) report on the proposed Wheatstone Project.

Chevron Australia Managing Director Roy Krzywosinski said, “This marks an important step towards a final investment decision in the second half of 2011 on one of Australia’s biggest resource projects.

“The Wheatstone Project is set to boost Australia’s position as a major LNG player on the world energy stage. The Project is Australia’s first-ever LNG hub concept that is expected to enable the efficient production of Australia’s vast natural gas resources,” said Krzywosinski.

Chevron is seeking approval for a 25 million tonne per annum (mtpa) LNG facility and associated domestic gas plant, along with associated offshore infrastructure.

“We believe the environmental and social impacts can be effectively managed and we will now review the EPA report,” said Brian Smith, general manager, Wheatstone Project. “The front-end engineering and design phase of the Wheatstone Project is complete and we are continuing to work with government to obtain timely project approvals.”

The Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project will become one of Australia’s largest resource projects. Located at Ashburton North, 12 kilometres west of Onslow in Western Australia, the Wheatstone Project is a joint venture between the Australian subsidiaries of Chevron (73.6%), Apache (13%), Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (7%) and Shell (6.4%). The foundation phase of the Project will consist of two liquefied natural gas trains with a combined capacity of 8.9 million tonnes per annum and a domestic gas plant. A final investment decision on the Project is expected in the second half of 2011.

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Source: Chevron, June 15, 2011;