Gas from North West Shelf to be used for power for remote West Kimberley

Woodside Gas from the North West Shelf project, operated by Woodside, is set to be used to generate electricity for the remote West Kimberley region of Western Australia. The Woodside/ Energy Equity Corp consortium was named as the preferred proponent for a power purchase agreement by WA Energy Minister Colin Barnett. The Australian Gas Association's industry development manager, David Parker, said the consortium's preferred status was a major boost to WA's gas sector and the Kimberley region.
"The West Kimberley now joins with regions like the Pilbara, Mid West, South West and the Goldfields in benefiting from natural gas power," he said. "I think the other significant thing is that this presents a real opportunity for LNG in the domestic market, even though it will be a very small load." The North West Shelf partners - Woodside, MIMI, BHP, BP, Shell and Chevron - are currently seeking sufficient domestic and foreign customers to proceed with a major expansion of the Burrup Peninsula LNG production facility.
Likewise, the partners in the neighbouring Gorgon gasfield are seeking sufficient domestic gas customers to kick-start development of its own LNG facility in the region. Neither group can commit to development without first securing customers, while customers have been slow to sign on without a commitment that the proposed facilities will indeed eventuate.