Greenpeace Protest Halts Work At $12.5 Billion Scarborough Gas Project, 2 Arrested

Woodside Energy has paused work at a floating production unit for its $12.5 billion Scarborough gas project off Western Australia after Greenpeace activists boarded the offshore facility, disrupting pre-commissioning activities at a project that is 98% complete.

Two activists spent Saturday night on the semi-submersible unit, located about 375 km (233 miles) off the state’s north-west coast.

Greenpeace said four activists climbed onto the 70,000-tonne platform on Saturday and displayed banners reading “Stop Woodside’s Dirty Gas. Save Scott Reef”.

Woodside said on Sunday that operations at the floating production unit (FPU) remained safely paused following the unauthorised access. The company has not announced a revised start-up date for the project, which was scheduled to begin operating before the end of 2026.

Two Greenpeace activists were arrested and charged with interfering with offshore petroleum installations or operations, according to the supplied reports. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The protest is aimed at Woodside’s proposed Browse gas project, which Greenpeace says could harm Scott Reef, a remote coral system and feeding area for the endangered pygmy blue whale. Browse and Scarborough are in the same region of north-western Australia but more than 1,000 km apart.

Greenpeace said the activists had set up temporary hanging tents on the Scarborough platform and planned to occupy it for as long as possible.

The group is concerned about the potential environmental impact of Browse on Scott Reef. Woodside has said its proposed project would not make physical contact with the reef in waters deeper than 75 metres.

Browse is described in the supplied reports as Australia’s largest undeveloped offshore gas resource. Estimates of its development cost range from about $34 billion to $37 billion.

The Australian Conservation Foundation has also challenged the Browse project. It launched a legal intervention in June, and the matter is now before the courts.

The organisation argues that emissions from the project would contribute to climate change and threaten natural environments in Western Australia and other parts of Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef.

In June, UNESCO decided against listing the Great Barrier Reef as an endangered World Heritage site, despite concerns about climate-related damage and mass coral bleaching. UNESCO remained concerned about the reef, while Australia had promised to take action to protect it.

Woodside said it temporarily halted pre-commissioning work at the Scarborough floating production unit after the activists gained unauthorised access.

A company spokesperson said the protest had required Western Australian resources to manage safety, security and operational issues.

Woodside described the response as significant, potentially costly and avoidable, and said the activists’ actions had put the surrounding environment, people and facility at risk.

Australian Border Force said on Sunday it had no further update on the incident. The agency had previously said it was working with federal and state authorities on a response.

The immediate impact has been a pause in work at the floating production unit. The company has not confirmed whether the incident will affect the project’s planned start-up.

Woodside’s Scarborough development is valued at $12.5 billion. According to the supplied reports, the project is designed to produce about 8 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) a year, as well as 6 million cubic metres of natural gas for the Australian domestic market.

The floating production unit is part of the project’s offshore infrastructure. With construction reported to be 98% complete, the development was expected to begin operations before the end of 2026.

Operations at the unit remained paused on Sunday, and Woodside had not announced a revised schedule. The extent of any delay, if there is one, remains unclear.

References: Reuters,