Chevron plans to leave five rigs in the water off the Pilbara coast and convert three into artificial reefs.The industry and other parties will be watching closely as a $60 billion decommissioning industry ramps up.
Another three will be repurposed into artificial reefs under a complex arrangement involving the state and federal governments as well as peak fishing group RecFishWest.Chevron, the government and RecFishWest say the plan is ecologically safe, arguing it will benefit the local marine ecosystem and provide fishing and tourism opportunities.
But Wilderness Society fossil fuel campaigner Fern Cadman said the project was an attempt by Chevron to reduce the financial cost of cleaning up its operations."So companies are looking for ways they can minimise the cost."Ms Cadman said she was also concerned about heavy metals and chemicals leaking from the infrastructure and polluting the surrounding environment.
Chief executive Drew Norrish said the company had major expansion plans now Chevron was winding down."It's just an enhancement of what's already there rather than changing or adding something that's significantly different," he said.The proposal has also been criticised by the Offshore Alliance, the union representing workers on oil and gas platforms.
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