In another sign that companies can expect more stringent greenhouse gas conditions in state licences and approvals, Western Australia has strengthened requirements for a proposed lithium plant.
An energy-intensive, state-owned utility with a hoard of renewable certificates worth $62 million is blaming federal policy uncertainty for its ongoing failure to comply with greenhouse gas conditions.
Woodside tried to sell to the federal government carbon credits that it created to satisfy a mandatory state offset condition for its Pluto LNG plant, and is now being audited by the Western Australian government.
Western Australia's EPA has recommended approval for BHP projects that could boost the state's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4%, and has left open the possibility of carbon offset conditions.
Tellus Holdings has gained approval for an underground repository that will accept up to 100,000 tonnes of hazardous waste annually, and is investigating whether the facility can earn carbon credits.