---
title: Scarborough gas project stalls as Woodside awaits final environmental approvals
description: Woodside Energy is awaiting environmental approvals from the offshore regulator, raising questions as to whether a crucial part of its Scarborough gas project will be able to be completed in time.
---
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The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# Scarborough gas project stalls as Woodside awaits final environmental approvals
Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Woodside Energy is awaiting two environmental approvals from the offshore regulator, raising questions as to whether a crucial part of its Scarborough gas project will be able to be completed in time.
New research from the Australia Institute shows that the majority of Australians feel positively about electrifying their homes, with 25% saying they expect their next car to be electric. But it’s the federal government choosing to keep the fossil fuel flowing.
And gas giants are bracing as the government prepares to release a mandatory code of conduct, ensuring consumers have access to Australian gas at reasonable prices, arguing that any new rules must not deter ongoing investment in exploration and development activities.
**Top stories:**
[Key Scarborough gas project work ‘on critical path’ as Woodside Energy awaits final environmental approvals ](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthewest.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Foil-gas%2Fkey-scarborough-gas-project-work-on-critical-path-as-woodside-energy-awaits-final-environmental-approvals--c-10440908&urlCategories=wan&analytics=false&documentId=ej0aP4Q4-fCMrM8lADX-MIXu4gc&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6InRoZXdlc3QuY29tLmF1In0.oOvDQfOco6bTp0ztkfebyaGNxavrhxq75IkADgLcAmnP-5CaUQVvEKLlv7qwMM8W4oorlkz8JF7WHV21crOXWA)
Doubts have been raised over whether Woodside Energy can complete a key part of its $16 billion Scarborough gas project on time as it awaits on two environmental approvals from the offshore regulator.
[Fed budget has each-way wager on gas, electrification](https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8169257/fed-budget-has-each-way-wager-on-gas-electrification/)
Most Australians are keen to switch from gas to renewable electricity because of climate change and rising bills, but the federal government will keep the fossil fuel flowing.
[Gas giants await government ruling on energy price curbs](https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/gas-giants-await-government-ruling-on-energy-price-curbs-20230423-p5d2n6.html)
The gas industry is bracing for the federal government to reveal its long-term plans to tame domestic gas prices after participating in weeks of talks to argue the case that any new rules must not deter ongoing investment in exploration and development activities.
[Toyota ready to meet Australian emissions reduction targets – executive](https://www.drive.com.au/news/toyota-australia-emissions-reduction-targets/)
Japanese auto giant Toyota has vowed to meet any Australian motor vehicle emissions standards rolled out by the Federal Government and has also rejected accusations it lobbied to slow the adoption of clean air measures or that it has been late to the electric-car race.
[WA Premier Mark McGowan calls on Albanese Government to release plans for gas tax hike, urges a ‘light touch’](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthewest.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Foil-gas%2Fwa-premier-mark-mcgowan-calls-on-albanese-government-to-release-plans-for-gas-tax-hike-urges-a-light-touch-c-10439903&urlCategories=wan&analytics=false&documentId=BSHinWtFzJ4MkuGN0ySsnO_9HWs&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6InRoZXdlc3QuY29tLmF1In0.oOvDQfOco6bTp0ztkfebyaGNxavrhxq75IkADgLcAmnP-5CaUQVvEKLlv7qwMM8W4oorlkz8JF7WHV21crOXWA)
Any changes to taxes on offshore gas production should be “relatively light touch” and designed to ensure there is no flow-on effect for domestic consumers, according to Premier Mark McGowan.
[Australia's security review shows climate risks require stronger action](https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/australias-security-review-shows-climate-risks-require-stronger-action/)
“After a decade of delay and denial by the Liberal and National Parties, the Albanese government has recognised that climate disruption will have a major impact on global, regional and human security”, said former Defence Force Chief Admiral Chris Barrie
[Climate change action a key concern for Commonwealth members](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/climate-change-action-a-key-concern-for-commonwealth-members/x1jqwyg5z)
The head of the Commonwealth of Nations has called on Australia to 'step up to the plate' in contributing to a climate disaster fund to help smaller nations bearing the brunt of natural disasters
[Former president of Kiribati backs legal case against Australia over inaction on climate crisis](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/24/former-president-of-kiribati-backs-legal-case-against-australia-over-inaction-on-climate-change)
A former Pacific Island president, Anote Tong, has backed a Torres-Strait Islander-led legal case to hold the Australian government accountable for climate crisis inaction.
[The Guardian view on the electric car revolution: targets are not enough](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/25/the-guardian-view-on-the-electric-car-revolution-targets-are-not-enough)
The government must do its bit to make new electric vehicles more affordable if mass adoption is to be achieved on the road to net zero.
[Snowy 2.0 construction works halted after fatal road crash](https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/snowy-2-0-construction-works-halted-after-fatal-road-crash-20230425-p5d33l.html)
The developers of the nation’s largest renewable energy project, the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro scheme, suspended construction earlier this week after a worker was killed in a fatal road accident.
[Australia risks backlash as ESG concerns become politicised](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Faustralia-risks-backlash-as-esg-concerns-become-politicised%2Fnews-story%2F2415b7601a42d3c02026ed6806fbd40a&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=_rr3P5TuJ5Sa0i-m34WwVAIaINs&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5kYWlseXRlbGVncmFwaC5jb20uYXUifQ.z0YhcXM_Zyjb0qtjIO66Mlwb8gsobb4M8b208Mf6m27A1cIREoPU2v9gAw9d_B2w8EHsaiHI-84i65CXpP9-lw)
Australia may be in danger of facing a US-style backlash against environmental, social and governance activism, particularly around climate change, the chief executive of the Responsible Investment Association has warned.
[Clouds darken over the future of trouble-plagued coal-fired power station](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fmarkets%2Fclouds-darken-over-the-future-of-troubleplagued-coalfired-power-station%2Fnews-story%2F7864616327d2d7a8769b2309122f2379&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=VU8I6dhv_V7-9quf93LjtnB7LH0&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy50aGVhdXN0cmFsaWFuLmNvbS5hdSJ9.1vY3spCFUUyGhEDyLIBXg29p-26pmzXzwzE2oZZbe-c6TeCw918owAs9OyVpNyuNC5HcZKjScGkzQdfI9fLuVQ)
The future of Australia’s first supercritical coal-fired power station is in doubt, one month after its private part-owner fell into voluntary administration.
[Climate protesters call out US banks for funding fossil fuel projects](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/25/climate-protest-citibank-banks-fossil-fuel-funding?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco)
Offices of Citibank in New York and Wells Fargo in San Francisco targeted by activists urging shareholders to act
[Coal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/coal), [energy policy](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/energy-policy), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [Pacific](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/pacific), [Electric vehicles](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/electric-vehicles), [renewables](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/renewables)
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