Cyclone Narelle Knocks Out WA Gas Projects

0:00It's March 28th, this is Sydney News Today, powered by AI. Four of Western Australia's biggest gas projects are offline after ex-tropical cyclone, Narelli battered the region, energy companies, Santos, Chevron, and Woodside confirmed disruptions at their key facilities which together supply nearly two-thirds of the states, domestic gas over recent months. The cyclone has since weakened to a tropical low. The storm hit hard along the Pilbara coast and nearby islands, knocking out production at Chevron's Gorgon and Wheatstone sites, Woodside's Karatha, gas plant, and Santos's Varanis Island facility. Gail Force winds forced shutdowns for safety, and teens are waiting for calmer weather to get back online. Analysts call it a significant hit, but say there's no need to panic yet. Reserves in pipelines and storage should cover power needs in the southwest, and the government is prioritizing homes over industry. Officials note these plants are built for cyclones and have handled issues before, like

1:02a major outage back in 2008. State energy leaders confirm offshore workers were safely pulled out and they're coordinating with companies to keep household gas flowing steadily. Power plants in the south are monitoring closely, but expect no big problems. All this unfolds amid global liquefied natural gas squeezes from Middle East tensions, making reliable local supply even more crucial as repairs ramp up.