Gas
Greenpeace protest halts Woodside LNG project in Australia
Environmental activists forced a temporary shutdown at Woodside Energy's 12.5 billion dollar Scarborough LNG facility following an offshore platform occupation.
Key points
- Two Greenpeace activists were arrested after boarding the Scarborough LNG platform off Western Australia.
- The 12.5 billion dollar project is 98 percent complete and expected to produce 8 million tons of LNG annually.
- Woodside Energy criticised the action for creating safety risks, while Greenpeace cited environmental concerns.
What happened
Operations at Woodside Energy's Scarborough liquefied natural gas platform off the coast of Western Australia experienced a temporary halt after two Greenpeace activists boarded the facility, according to reports by ABC and Reuters. Local authorities stated that the individuals were arrested and charged with interfering with offshore petroleum installations, an offense carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The protest was staged to oppose a new gas development that environmental groups argue poses risks to a nearby coral reef ecosystem and endangered whale species. Woodside rejected these claims, maintaining that production facilities will have no contact with the surrounding marine environment. Representatives for the energy major condemned the demonstration, describing the disruption as an avoidable safety and security hazard that mobilized regional resources.
What comes next
The Scarborough facility, carrying a price tag of 12.5 billion dollars, is nearly complete at 98 percent and was scheduled to begin operations before the end of the year. The facility is designed to yield approximately 8 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually, alongside 6 million cubic metres of natural gas earmarked for domestic supply in Australia. Company statements indicate that the weekend disruption may risk a postponement of the planned startup schedule.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the growing physical and legal vulnerabilities facing large-scale fossil fuel developments globally as environmental opposition intensifies near project completion dates. For international energy markets, any delay in bringing major supply sources like the Scarborough project online can influence regional balances, particularly as global commodity prices remain sensitive to supply adjustments. While Australia maintains full electrification and high domestic energy use, large natural gas developments remain central to its export economy, where fuel exports accounted for 26.9 percent of merchandise exports in 2025, according to World Bank figures. For investors and developers across Africa and other resource-rich regions, the episode underscores the rising security and operational costs associated with managing direct-action protests at capital-intensive energy infrastructure.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
17.0% of electricity in Australia came from gas in 2025Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
