Woodside in power talks with Tidal Energy

www.businessspectator.com.au
7 Jul 2010

Woodside Petroleum Ltd has undertaken informal discussions with renewable energy company Tidal Energy over the possibility of using its technology to provide power for the oil producer's James Point LNG project, the Australian Financial Review reports. Tidal Energy is the operator of a stalled $400 million tidal river energy project in the Kimberley region, which it says could supply a small portion of the proposed LNG operation's total electricity requirements. While a Woodside Petroleum spokesperson told the AFR the talks were not formal enough to be called negotiations, the move has prompted Tidal Energy to seek environmental approval from the federal government. Earlier this year, Woodside Petroleum chief executive Don Voelte said the Kimberley coastline could become a major gas hub in four or five years after final approval for the James Point project, expected in 2012.