Woodside Sticks to Kimberly Gas Hub Plan

Woodside Petroleum will not consider alternatives to the Browse liquefied natural gas hub proposed for the Kimberley, at least not until the end of the year, the Age reported.

This is despite speculation that new and old partners prefer other options for processing the Browse Basin reserves.

The company does not plan to think about alternatives until final investment decision for the project is not arrived at, which is expected by early next year.

''We have a commitment to take James Price Point through to a certain decision point,'' he told reporters at the company's annual meeting in Perth.

The newspaper said that Mitsubishi Corporation, one half of the Japanese consortium with its partner Mitsui, known as MIMI, reportedly prefer Woodside's existing North-West Shelf facility in the Pilbara to James Price Point.

Kimberly site has been courting controversies regarding environmental issues. It is also facing opposition from some Aboriginal groups.