investors may be concerned the recent offshore oilspill may put...

investors may be concerned the recent offshore oilspill may put the Gorgon contract under threat as the greens have been making noise.


Oil spill won't affect Gorgon: Garrett


Christian Kerr | August 24, 2009
Article from: The Australian

ENVIRONMENT Minister Peter Garrett says the oil spill off the WA coast will have no impact on his deliberations over the giant Gorgon gas project.

Mr Garret must make a decision to give final approval to the project, on Barrow Island, off WAs Pilbara, by September 8.

The Greens have already called for a full judicial inquiry in the wake of the oil spoll off the West Atlas mobile offshore drilling unit in the Timor Sea, 250 kilometres north of Truscott, in the Kimberley.

They have raised concerns over environmental damage from Gorgon, but Mr Garrett says the spill will have no bearing on his decision.

Mr Garrett said the Gorgon proposal that had been "very carefully and closely assessed over a period of time by both the West Australian and Commonwealth governments."

He said he expect to make a decision later this week based "on those matters that relate to specific environment issues under the national environment legislation."

Mr Garrett said the government was working closely with state officials over the spill, but warned the government would look "very closely" whether contingency plans had been followed.

"We will investigate once the actual treatment and activities around the spill have concluded, the particular matters that led to the spill," he said.

"That is something which will happen once we have done the work that needs to be done immediately."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25973282-2702,00.html