Woodside Energy: Scarborough Offshore Facility & Trunkline Operations Environment Plan

08/22/2025 – 01:58 AM

PERTH, Australia – Woodside (WDS.AU) has cleared a significant hurdle for its Scarborough Energy Project. The Federal Court has upheld the validity of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority’s (NOPSEMA) approval of the Scarborough Offshore Facility and Trunkline (Operations) Environment Plan (Scarborough Operations EP), the company announced.

This green light removes the final Commonwealth environmental roadblock, paving the way for Woodside to connect, commission, and operate the Scarborough floating production unit. The Scarborough Operations EP approval is a crucial piece of the puzzle for the project.

According to Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill, the court’s decision provides further confidence in the project. “This outcome reinforces confidence in progressing the Scarborough Energy Project,” O’Neill stated, highlighting the project’s ongoing contributions to the Australian economy. The project is estimated to generate over A$50 billion in direct and indirect taxes throughout it’s lifespan.

“Scarborough is expected to be one of the lowest carbon intensity sources of LNG delivered into north Asian markets,” O’Neill added, emphasizing the project’s role in providing reliable energy to the region and bolstering domestic gas supply. The project aims to balance energy security with environmental considerations.

The Scarborough Energy Project: A Snapshot

The Scarborough Energy Project represents a major investment in Australian energy infrastructure, encompassing the Scarborough gas field, the construction of Pluto Train 2, modifications to the existing Pluto Train 1, and the Integrated Remote Operations Centre.

Upon completion, the project is slated to produce up to 8 million tonnes of LNG per year, in addition to contributing up to 225 terajoules per day of domestic gas into the Western Australian market. This will serve as a crucial energy source for the region.

As of June 30, 2025, the Scarborough Energy Project was approximately 86% complete (excluding Pluto Train 1 modifications). Woodside anticipates the first LNG cargo to be shipped in the second half of 2026. Investors and industry analysts are closely watching the development as it progresses towards its target completion date.