EDL and Woodside: Delivering new energy solutions for WA

EDL’s joint venture with Woodside reached a major milestone with the recent opening of the Woodside-operated Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) truck loading facility near Karratha, Western Australia.

EDL CEO James Harman congratulated Woodside on the facility, which was officially opened by the Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan.

“Now that Woodside has opened this key asset, our joint venture will be able to provide LNG to mining operations and communities in the Pilbara, Kimberley and other remote parts of Western Australia.

“As the joint venture operator, EDL will be undertaking end-to-end projects including the supply, transport, storage and vaporisation of LNG, as well as remote power generation,” he said.

“We are proud to partner with Woodside to deliver a reliable, low cost and sustainable energy solution to our customers in the form of LNG, a clean and cost-effective domestic fuel alternative to diesel.”

With the Pluto LNG truck loading facility in operation, the Woodside-EDL joint venture will have the initial ability to deliver up to seven triple-road train loads per day. Each road train contains LNG that is equivalent to approximately 80,000 litres of diesel. At this initial capacity, replacing that much diesel with LNG could reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 120,000 tonnes per year.

Woodside Chief Operations Officer Meg O’Neill said the Pluto LNG truck loading facility demonstrated their commitment to supplying domestic gas, and highlighted Woodside’s drive to find new markets for their cleaner LNG. “Woodside believes that LNG produced here in Western Australia can replace those higher-emissions fuels, delivering environmental benefits while supporting the growth of local industries and creating new markets for locally produced LNG,” she said.

EDL has been the market leader in trucked LNG for Western Australia for more than a decade. Since 2007, the company has safely transported more than a billion litres to its power stations in Broome, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek and Derby, ensuring clean and reliable power supply in these remote communities.

The Woodside-EDL joint venture’s foundation customer Sheffield Resources will be one of the first recipients of LNG loaded at the Pluto facility. Sheffield Resources’ Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project will require up to 12 triple-road trains per week, with the first LNG scheduled for delivery in late 2020.

Photo: All smiles at the Pluto LNG truck loading facility opening (left to right) – Sheffield Resources Ltd MD Bruce McFadzean, Woodside COO Meg O’Neill, WA Premier Mark McGowan and EDL GM Remote Energy Geoff HobleyAll smiles at the Pluto LNG truck loading facility opening: (left to right) Sheffield Resources Ltd MD Bruce McFadzean, Woodside COO Meg O’Neill, WA Premier Mark McGowan and EDL GM Remote Energy Geoff Hobley