Arabic version: احتجاز شخصين بعد احتجاج لغرينبيس على منصة غاز تابعة لوودسايد
According to ABC News, two people are in police custody after activists occupied an offshore Woodside gas platform about 200 kilometres off Western Australia’s coast in protest of the company’s gas operations. An Australian Border Force spokesperson said the agency was working with federal and state authorities after the platform was occupied overnight and Woodside’s operations were disrupted.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific said four protesters travelled to the platform early Saturday morning. It said two activists set up “temporary hanging tents” and planned to remain on the platform for “as long as possible”. Images supplied by Greenpeace showed activists scaling the Woodside platform and displaying a banner protesting the company’s planned gas project at Scott Reef.
On Sunday afternoon, Greenpeace said two activists had been taken into police custody. The group said special police forces landed a helicopter on the platform at about 11:30am AWST, and that the activists removed themselves from their equipment before being taken into custody at about 1pm.
Woodside said pre-commissioning activity at Scarborough had been paused under routine procedures following the unauthorised access. The platform forms part of the company’s $12.5 billion Scarborough natural gas project. Woodside said the activists had deliberately and unlawfully accessed the floating production unit, endangering themselves and Woodside staff. It described the response as significant, potentially costly and avoidable, and called the conduct dangerous, reckless and illegal.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific chief executive David Ritter said the protesters were highly trained and experienced, and that care was always taken for the health, safety and welfare of those involved. He said environmental groups had increased activity in response to Woodside’s planned Browse project. Scott Reef is Australia’s largest standalone oceanic reef, while Browse is planned to access Australia’s largest undeveloped offshore gas reserve.
