Burrup Hub gas project could release 13 times Australia’s annual carbon emissions, analysis suggests

Burrup peninsula with the Woodside-operated North West Shelf Karratha gas plant (in the foreground) and the Burrup Park LNG plant, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Photograph: Krystle Wright/The Guardian

Planned gas developments on Western Australia’s Burrup Hub led by Woodside Energy could result in twice as much greenhouse gas being emitted as any other Australian fossil fuel development up for approval, according to an analysis by environment groups.

The analysis led by Greenpeace estimated the Burrup Hub expansion could lead to 6.1bn tonnes of CO₂ across the decades ahead if fully developed – roughly 13 times what Australia emits annually. Most of the emissions would be released when the gas was sold and burned overseas.