Australian authorities have apprehended two Greenpeace activists who unlawfully boarded an offshore gas platform located off the coast of Western Australia. On Saturday morning, the activists sailed to the Scarborough gas floating production unit (FPU), approximately 125 nautical miles from Exmouth. They climbed aboard without permission and displayed banners to express their opposition, prompting the operator, Woodside, to halt pre-commissioning operations temporarily. Two activists stayed on the platform overnight, equipped with hanging tents for an extended protest.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) announced the successful removal of the two activists on Monday, stating they were taken off the platform without injury and subsequently detained in Western Australia. The men, aged 48 and 52, face charges for “interfering with offshore petroleum installations or operations,” which could result in up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The ABF emphasized the risks associated with unauthorized access to offshore facilities, which operate in complex and hazardous environments.
Greenpeace is opposed to Woodside’s plans to drill up to 57 wells, many of which are near Scott Reef, a critical habitat for various marine species. The organization argues that oil and gas development poses significant threats to the marine environment through seismic surveys and increased vessel traffic. In contrast, Woodside claims that the Scarborough project’s gas composition is low in CO2, and its facilities will be energy-efficient, contributing to a lower carbon footprint for LNG supplied to the Asian market.
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