Over the weekend, Greenpeace activists boarded the Scarborough floating production unit without permission off Western Australia, leading Woodside to pause commissioning work. The company, which is Australia's largest natural gas exporter, said Monday the situation had been resolved and commissioning had restarted.
Greenpeace said demonstrators stayed on the unit Saturday night. The group added that two protesters set up suspended tents on the platform, and two more headed back to its ship, the Rainbow Warrior.
Authorities said two men have been charged over the incident. Officials from the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, the Australian Border Force, and state police said in a joint statement that the men could be jailed for up to 10 years and are scheduled to appear at the Karratha Magistrates Court on Monday. The investigation remains open.
Woodside said it will cooperate with authorities "to enable the law to be enforced to the fullest extent."
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Scarborough is central to Woodside's growth plans, with the company counting on new LNG volumes to boost output and serve Asia's rising demand. The project has surpassed 98% completion and aims to send its first shipment before year end, at a moment when global supply is tight amid disruptions to Middle East exports.
Greenpeace has long opposed the development, arguing it threatens marine ecosystems and would add to greenhouse gas emissions. On Monday, the group took a petition to Woodside's headquarters urging the government to stop the Browse LNG project and protect Scott Reef. According to Greenpeace, the petition ranks among Australia's largest environmental campaigns, with almost 500,000 signatures.
"Community pressure on Woodside is rising. Today we are here to show Woodside that they can't ignore half a million people who want Scott Reef protected, not turned into an industrialized gas zone," said David Ritter, who is the chief executive officer of Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
Commissioning back on track helps keep a flagship, $12 billion supply source in play as LNG markets stay tight. If Scarborough ships before year end as targeted, it could add timely cargoes into a constrained market, while ongoing activism and legal proceedings remain a watch item for project risk and timelines.
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