Woodside Energy's Delayed Browse LNG Project Expected To Cost $35 Billion

SYDNEY, May 11 (Reuters) - Woodside Energy's (WDS.AX) long-delayed Browse liquefied natural gas project is now expected to cost A$48.7 billion ($35.2 billion), according to a new report commissioned by the company.

The proposal to develop Australia's largest untapped gas resource was submitted to regulators in 2018 and was last estimated to cost A$27.3 billion in 2019, but a major carbon capture and storage (CCS) component was added to the project in 2023.

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Browse Project Development

The Browse project's progress has been delayed by environmental approvals and negotiations over a processing agreement.

An economic impact assessment by Deloitte commissioned by Woodside and released on Monday said the project's total capital expenditure would now be A$48.7 billion. The figure used different assumptions and a different base year compared to the 2019 estimate.

"It would be one of the largest projects in Australian history based on capital expenditure," the report said, adding it would also create 3,068 full-time jobs and generate A$56.2 billion in tax payments.

Woodside has proposed to use the Browse fields off northwest Australia to supply the ageing North West Shelf LNG facility, which received a 40-year life extension to 2070 last year.

CCS Component And Environmental Review

Its CCS component also aims to inject up to 4 million metric tons a year of carbon dioxide emissions back into the Browse reservoirs and to reduce direct emissions by 47%.

Environmental groups have opposed the project, arguing it would threaten the nearby Scott Reef, home to endangered pygmy blue whales and green turtles.

The environment department is due to give final advice to the government on whether to approve or reject the project as soon as next month, according to public broadcaster ABC.

Browse Project Partners

Woodside's partners ​in Browse are BP (BP.L), Japan's Mitsui & Co (8031.T), and Mitsubishi (8058.T), and the international arm of PetroChina (601857.SS).