PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Oil and gas major Woodside has announced a consortium with energy major BP and Japan Australia LNG (MIMI), which is owned by Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co, to progress feasibility studies for a large-scale, multi-user carbon capture and storage (CCS) project near Karratha, in Western Australia.

Woodside told shareholders that the study represents an important step towards the development of one of Australia’s first multi-user CCS projects, ideally located to aggregate emissions from various existing sources. It would also help facilitate the development of new lower-carbon industries, such as the production of hydrogen and ammonia, by providing a local solution for emissions.

The successful deployment of CCS in Western Australia has the potential to create new jobs, protect current jobs and contribute to achieving greenhouse gas emission reduction targets at a lower cost than many other technologies, the three companies said in a joint statement.

Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said the project was an exciting opportunity to explore another technology-driven solution to reducing emissions.

“CCS will play a key role in Australia meeting its emissions targets and has the potential to decarbonise existing and new industry. It would be an important addition to Woodside’s carbon management options as we work towards our own aspiration of net zero by 2050,” she said.

BP senior VP for hydrogen and CCUS Louise Jacobsen Plutt said that with BP’s deep expertise and experience in CCS, this is a great opportunity for the company to explore with its longstanding joint venture partners the decarbonization of hard-to-abate industrial sectors in the north-west, and Australia more widely, through the technology.

MIMI MD and CEO Hiroyuki Kurahashi also said the company was excited to work with its consortium partners in looking at technology to help manage and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.