Woodside Energy (ASX:WDS) confirmed a production suspension at the North West Shelf venture as Tropical Cyclone Narelle barrels toward the Western Australian coastline, further tightening a global energy market already reeling from geopolitical instability.
The energy giant announced that the Karratha Gas Plant, the primary onshore processing hub for the nation’s oldest LNG project, has ceased operations due to the escalating weather risks.
A company spokesperson confirmed that while the North West Shelf has been sidelined, production remains operational at the Pluto and Macedon facilities, ensuring a continued flow of domestic gas to Western Australian customers from the group’s broader portfolio.
The disruption at Woodside coincides with a wider regional retreat from offshore operations.
Chevron has been forced to enact temporary closures at its massive Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG plants, while Santos previously suspended its Darwin LNG operations ahead of the storm to facilitate essential maintenance on the Barossa production vessel in the Timor Sea.
The domestic interruptions arrive at a critical juncture for international energy security; global supplies are already severely constrained following Iranian military strikes on Qatari LNG infrastructure and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Woodside intends to recommence production at the North West Shelf once conditions permit the remobilisation of its offshore workforce.
The company has pledged to provide further market updates regarding any material impacts to assets or long-term production schedules in accordance with its continuous disclosure obligations.
At the time of reporting, Woodside Energy's share price was $34.22.