PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended the Waitsia Gas project Stage 2 for environmental approval, subject to strict conditions.

Producer AWE Perth, under Mitsui E&P Australia, is hoping to construct and operate a conventional gas facility about 16 km south-east of the Dongara-Port Denison town sites.

Gas will be extracted from the production wells and conveyed to gas hubs, and would then be directed via flowlines to the proposed Waitsia gas plant for processing, before being conveyed to the nearby Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline.

EPA chairperson Dr Tom Hatton said this was the second proposal the EPA had assessed under its new greenhouse gas emissions guidance, which was released in April this year.

“The EPA welcomes the proponent’s commitment to emissions targets that go above and beyond the EPA’s long-standing policy of offset reservoir emissions,” Hatton said.

“AWE Perth have also committed to emissions targets that require the project to avoid, reduce or offset greenhouse emissions over time and a trajectory that delivers net zero emissions by 2050.

“The EPA notes AWE has incorporated a number of design elements and technologies along with monitoring and management programs to achieve emission reduction. AWE has also proposed to undertake a refit of the plant and equipment after 10 years of operation to adopt further greenhouse gas abatement measures if they are available to further support their endeavours.

“The EPA considered the potential impacts on flora and vegetation from the clearing of 17 ha of native vegetation, dust deposition, weeds and dieback could be adequately managed through a recommended flora and vegetation management plan,” Hatton said.

The EPA’s report to the Minister for Environment is now open for a two-week public appeal period, closing September 21.