The approval was granted by the Commonwealth Government’s offshore oil and gas regulator NOPSEMA and will enable LNG production at Chevron’s Gorgon project. This will result in 62 million tonnes of emissions annually, which is 16 times greater than the emissions of WA’s largest coal power station, Muja.

The approval comes despite Chevron’s ongoing failure to achieve carbon capture and storage (CCS) targets that were a condition of the project’s original approvals.

“The total emissions from this expansion represent 6 years of Australia’s current annual emissions, it’s a huge amount” said Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor at The Australia institute.

“This approval highlights the determination of the Australian Government to prioritise the interests of foreign owned gas exporters over our climate and communities.

“Western Australia is coming off the back of a record-breaking summer – we know further climate change will speed up the collapse of our forests in the south west and increase the frequency and severity of fires and floods.

“The positive impacts of any Australian or WA Government renewable energy initiatives will be completely undone by this irresponsible project if it proceeds.”

“Chevron can’t even meet its carbon capture and storage commitments that were a condition of its original approval. Why, then, is the Government providing additional approvals that will further increase emissions?”