Protesters return to gas hub site - The West Australian

Protesters return to gas hub site - The West Australian:

The protest season is under way again in Broome, with dry weather conditions signalling a return to work for Woodside and a call to arms for people determined that the proposed gas precinct at James Price Point must not go ahead.

Woodside has resumed its last engineering and environmental investigations as well as offshore surveys along the pipeline route and production facilities.

Protesters, including a camel drawing a "chariot" and a convoy of vehicles, embarked on a two-hour walk yesterday to reopen the Manari Road camp that is the base for their activities.

Goolarabooloo man Philip Roe met protesters in front of a "Welcome to country" sign warning of fines of up to $100,000 and two years jail for disturbing or damaging Aboriginal sites.
Premier Colin Barnett reiterated his commitment to developing the site. "You can have a major new industry without compromising the environment and living conditions," he said.

Barnett should butt out of Browse deal: McGowan - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Barnett should butt out of Browse deal: McGowan - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Mark McGowan says Mr Barnett should not be threatening the commercial partners and the Premier's comments send a very poor message. "We don't need interventionism, soviet style interventionism, by the Premier of Western Australia," he said.

Mr McGowan says he is concerned about how the project is developing and believes it sends a clouded message to future overseas investors. He says if he were elected Premier he would allow the commercial partners to pipe gas to Karratha instead of James Price Point which is Premier Barnett's preferred location for the gas hub.

WHAT REALLY IS HAPPENING AT JAMES PRICE POINT THIS WEEK

Barnett warning on gas hub site - The West Australian

Barnett warning on gas hub site - The West Australian:

Premier Colin Barnett has fired a shot over the bow of the Browse joint venture partners, suggesting that he is prepared to use State Agreement Acts to ensure gas from the $30 billion-plus project is processed at his preferred greenfields site at James Price Point.

News this week that operator and major equity holder Woodside sold down a 15 per cent share of its 45 per cent stake in the 12-million-tonne-a-year Browse project to Japanese giants Mitsui and Mitsubishi sparked speculation from market analysts that gas was less likely to be processed at James Price Point and more likely to be piped 900km south to existing North West Shelf processing trains at Karratha.


While Woodside remains publicly committed to James Price Point, Browse's other joint venture partners BP, Shell, BHP Billiton and Chevron have advocated sending the gas to Karratha in a bid to further underpin that project. The entry of Mitsui and Mitsubishi means the make-up of the Browse partnership mirrors that of the 23-year-old North West Shelf venture.

James Price Point, 60km north of Broome, is preferred by the Premier, despite the noisy objections of environmentalists and some in the local indigenous community.

2012.05.02 Media Release Browse Cable Beach Threat

Thumbs up for Woodside after Browse sale

Thumbs up for Woodside after Browse sale:
Some analysts speculated it was now more likely the Browse gas would not be processed at a new $30 billion-plus hub at the controversial James Price Point north of Broome on the Kimberley Coast, but would be piped 900 kilometres south to the existing North West Shelf plant at Karratha, which is split equally by the same six partners and which could run out of gas around the end of this decade.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Andrew Williams said the Browse joint venture looked ''exactly like the North West Shelf'' and the MIMI deal would shift the weighting away from a greenfields and towards a brownfields development option, which was ''always going to be cheaper''.

The West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, said the deal was a ''vote of confidence in James Price Point, and progress of the Browse LNG project''.

A Woodside spokeswoman said James Price Point remained the base case for the Browse development, which was well into a front-end engineering process to which partners had committed $1.25 billion.

Thumbs up for Woodside after Browse sale

Thumbs up for Woodside after Browse sale:
Some analysts speculated it was now more likely the Browse gas would not be processed at a new $30 billion-plus hub at the controversial James Price Point north of Broome on the Kimberley Coast, but would be piped 900 kilometres south to the existing North West Shelf plant at Karratha, which is split equally by the same six partners and which could run out of gas around the end of this decade.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Andrew Williams said the Browse joint venture looked ''exactly like the North West Shelf'' and the MIMI deal would shift the weighting away from a greenfields and towards a brownfields development option, which was ''always going to be cheaper''.

The West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, said the deal was a ''vote of confidence in James Price Point, and progress of the Browse LNG project''.

A Woodside spokeswoman said James Price Point remained the base case for the Browse development, which was well into a front-end engineering process to which partners had committed $1.25 billion.

Strike ban on Woodside gas projects

Strike ban on Woodside gas projects:
The Federal Court has allowed wildcat strikers on Woodside Petroleum's huge North-West Shelf expansion projects to go on a good behaviour bond and avoid $9 million in fines after they agreed not to repeat their behaviour for up to seven years.

Port dredging underestimated - The West Australian

Port dredging underestimated - The West Australian:
A confidential Federal Government review of the dredging which was unearthed about the same time had detailed serious concerns about the potential impact on the marine environment from toxins, including arsenic and zinc.

The review also found basic modelling had not been tested widely and was based on dredging over 12 months when it was likely to take longer.

Other details that would normally be addressed in a dredging assessment had either not been included or not discussed in sufficient detail, the review said.

Metocean data expert Piers Larcombe, who carried out research for the Department and Woodside, also criticised the modelling for its lack of data.

Woodside still backs James Price Point | Latest Business & Australian Stock market News | Perth Now

Woodside still backs James Price Point | Latest Business & Australian Stock market News | Perth Now:
Mr Coleman said today Woodside had made a commitment to “take James Price Point to a certain decision point” and that it was not looking to sell any more equity in Browse in the short-term.

“We’ve said that decision point will be reached sometime around the end of his year or early next year,” he said.

“We really won’t be pursuing other options in earnest until we reach that decision point and see how that plays out.

“We’re very hopeful we’ll have a project to move forward with at that time, but we’ll just have to wait until then.”

The commitment to James Price Point comes as the WA’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced its report on the proposed gas hub will be pushed back to the middle of this year.

Browse LNG report expected mid-year - Media statements - Public notices

Browse LNG report expected mid-year

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Summary: New, detailed information on the environmental impact of dredging at the proposed Browse Liquefied Natural Gas processing precinct at James Price Point has now been provided to the Environmental Protection Authority for assessment.
Release Date: 2 May 2012

Browse LNG report expected mid-year - Media statements - Public notices:


The proponent, the Department of State Development, requested additional time to provide the updated information on dredging and spoil disposal.

Goodbye Cable Beach, Goodbye

EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said the revised modelling of impacts was provided on April 30.
“It is vital the information is adequate and robust prior to being subject to the EPA’s usual rigour and scrutiny expected by the public and the Minister for Environment,” Dr Vogel said.

Dr Vogel said the proponent had remodelled the impacts of dredging incorporating improved geotechnical, bathymetric and metocean data.

He said the dredge volume had also been revised from 21 million cubic metres to 34 million cubic metres of material, with the duration of foundation dredging activities estimated to     
                                                                                           increase from 18 to 21 months.

Dr Vogel said the assessment would determine if there were significant different or additional environmental impacts predicted from modelling the effects of dredging using the revised information.

“The Browse LNG proposal is the most significant environmental impact assessment of a strategic proposal ever undertaken under the Environmental Protection Act,” Dr Vogel said.

“The public deserves nothing less than for the EPA to make a fully informed decision and for this reason, the EPA’s report to the Minister for Environment is now expected mid-year.”

Woodside Protesters - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Woodside Protesters - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation):

Activists set up a 'Deal or No Deal' themed protest outside Woodside's AGM in Perth; they are opposing a proposed gas hub at James Price Point where the company will eventually process gas from the Browse Basin.

During an address by Woodside's chief executive officer, Peter Coleman, at the Perth Convention Centre, one of about two dozen protesters demonstrating outside the meeting breached security and yelled out "James Price Point; no deal".

The protesters are demonstrating against a decision to set up an LNG processing hub at James Price Point, on the Kimberley coast.

DEAL OR NO DEAL OVER JAMES PRICE POINT

Photo from Woodside AGM today.  Action organized by the Wilderness Society.

A long pointed question was posed to Coleman in the AGM
Australian Financial Review:

“While investors cheered the deal for reducing Woodside’s risk in the expensive Browse project, the ramifications for building a natural gas processing hub on the Kimberley coast now hang in the balance.

Mitsubishi, Japan’s largest trading company, said it was open to processing gas from Browse at the North-West Shelf LNG venture, where it already holds a stake.

“Processing this gas at the existing NWS location is something we would be interested in,” a Mitsubishi spokesman said on Tuesday. “It is not just our decision but we would look at this as an option.”

4000 protest against mining outside Parliament

4000 protest against mining outside Parliament:

Up to 4000 people from across the state are staging a noisy rally outside NSW Parliament today, calling for tougher restrictions on coal and coal seam gas mining.

The Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner was shouted at and booed as he tried to reassure the angry crowd the state government would protect agricultural land.

A broad coalition of farmers, rural residents, environmentalists and other activists marched on the Parliament at lunchtime today, banging drums and chanting "country and city united we stand, protect our water, protect our land"

Go to      http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsw_farmers/sets/72157629571459738/show/   
or
 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=287986254622910&set=vb.160635150691355&type=2&theater

for pictures of the  rally against Coal Seam Gas in Sydney, it was an epic...first rally the Country Women Association have ever attended.

Woodside’s $2 Billion Deal To Test Partners’ Resolve - Deal Journal Australia - WSJ

Woodside’s $2 Billion Deal To Test Partners’ Resolve - Deal Journal Australia - WSJ:

Due to be built in a place marked with one of the world’s longest chain of dinosaur footprints, Browse is facing opposition from environmental groups and has angered some traditional land owners.

What’s more, it has also faced disunity between its joint venture partners over the best way to process the gas for export.

Sauropod thoroughfare James Price Point

Some, such as Chevron and BHP, would prefer to have the resource piped to the existing North West Shelf project when it runs out of gas next decade.

Woodside is nevertheless pressing on with the development of a new LNG facility at James Price Point on the Western Australia coast by 2017, with the backing of the Western Australian and federal governments.
 



But if it keeps on pushing for a shiny new plant, Woodside could end up with fewer friends willing to accompany it along the way.

Colin Barnett Premier; Minister for State Development Tue 01 May, 2012 Browse development a vote for gas project Premier, State Development

Media Statements - Results:

“There is no doubt that this announcement is a vote of confidence and a major step forward for the Browse project and the development of a gas precinct at James Price Point,” he said.

"Notwithstanding this positive development the project still has some way to go to reach FID (final investment decision) in 2013 as the joint venture parties need to still determine the site for the LNG facility to process the Browse gas with disagreement over the Kimberley/James Price Point site versus piping the gas to the North West Shelf."

Woodside stake sale throws plans for LNG plant into doubt | The Australian

Woodside stake sale throws plans for LNG plant into doubt | The Australian:
WOODSIDE Petroleum has agreed to a $US2 billion sell-down of a 14.7 per cent stake in the giant Browse gas fields off the coast of Western Australia to its Japanese North West Shelf partners Mitsubishi and Mitsui, in a move that will throw further doubt on the likelihood of an LNG plant being built at James Price Point near Broome.

Under Mr Coleman, Woodside appears less likely to develop the Browse fields - through a new LNG plant at James Price Point - than it would under previous chief Don Voelte.

Instead, Woodside is now more aligned with the wishes of most of the Browse joint-venture partners for the fields to be developed by piping the gas further south to the existing North West Shelf plant at Karratha when reserves at its fields run low towards the end of the decade.

Woodside seals $2bn Browse LNG deal

Woodside seals $2bn Browse LNG deal: Woodside Petroleum has sealed a $2 billion deal to sell part of its stake in the proposed Browse LNG Development to Japan Australia LNG.

Woodside on Tuesday also said it had accepted an offer for a long-term sales and purchase agreement for about 1.5 million tonnes of LNG a year from the Browse development subject to completion of the equity offer.

Woodside said that while the price agreed by the parties was confidential, it was in line with traditional Asian pricing for conventional LNG projects.

CONFERENCE & DOCUMENTARY ON BIODIVERSITY AT KINGS PARK

Conference in English - Questions/Answers in French and English
Free entry - RSVP essential on 9386 7921 or by email to culture@afperth.com.au
Monday 14th May, from 6pm

First floor science offices - Biodiversity Conservation Centre at Kings Park

The Alliance Française de Perth will organise a conference presented by Alain Pavé and Bruno Cédat about the notion of biodiversity and its scientific and social meaning. Alain Pavé is a French emeritus university professor, member of the Academy of Technology and former director of the CNRS Amazonian Program in French Guyana. He is specialised in the dynamic of biodiversity, biology, in both theorical and progressive ecology and in the science of the environment.

This conference will be based on Bruno Cédat's documentary, the Goolarabooloo between nature and tradition. Biodiversity and ecosystem.

In August 2010, Bruno Cédat spent some time in an Aboriginal community in the Kimberleys, Western Australia, to film a documentary about diversity. This project led him to meet scientists, biodiversity and ecosystems restoration specialists. Assisted by French scientist, Alain Pavé and Kingley Dixon, Director of the botanic garden in Perth, Bruno Cedat's documentary reveals the biological wealth of Western Australia and the privileged relations of the Aboriginal with environment.

This debate will increase the awareness of the public towards environmental thematic through an educational documentary.