Woodside’s WA gas export expansion emissions greater than all Australia’s coal power stations

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New Australia Institute research shows emissions from Western Australia’s gas exports are 182 million tonnes CO2e annually, which is:

  • Greater than the emissions of 153 individual countries
  • Greater than all of Australia’s coal power stations
  • Greater than 50 times the emissions from WA’s largest coal power station, the Muja power station

Emissions from the planned expansion of WA’s gas exports are potentially even greater, up to 250 mt CO2e annually and 15 billion tonnes over the lifetime of these projects, equivalent to 33 years of Australia’s entire emissions (459.7 mt)

Annual emissions resulting from Woodside’s Burrup Hub expansion alone, which includes the 50-year extension of North West Shelf gas export terminal, would be up to 132 mt annually:

  • Greater than the emissions of all Australia’s coal power stations
  • 36 times the emissions of Muja coal power station

“Emissions from gas export projects operating in WA are making WA, Australia and the rest of the world hotter, and disasters like fires and floods more frequent and extreme, said Rod Campbell, Research Director at The Australia Institute.

“Ordinary Western Australians are paying the price of the damage to our climate caused by multinational gas corporations exporting WA’s gas. They are paying in higher insurance premiums, disaster costs and the erosion of our quality of life.

“Emissions from these exports are already greater than 153 individual countries, and greater than all of Australia’s coal power stations combined.

“Vast amounts of gas are exported from Western Australia, but not by Western Australians, by a handful of predominantly foreign-owned corporations that get most of the gas for free and pay no resources tax on the gas they export.

“Woodside’s Burrup Hub expansion is one of the biggest proposed new fossil fuel developments in the world. It will make climate change worse, and is not in the national interest or in the interests of Western Australians.

“We would never consider allowing dozens of new coal power stations, yet Woodsides gas export expansion plans would have even more emissions.”

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