Woodside Energy considers everything to be on the table in a review of its Beaumont New Ammonia facility in Texas, raising the prospect that it could seek a buyer for a project it agreed to acquire for US$2.35 billion only two years ago. Chief Executive Liz Westcott said the review reflected a shift in international policy positions since the August 2024 acquisition and slack demand for lower carbon ammonia, which has potential uses in power generation and as a marine fuel. "When we took an investment decision, it was a different world," Westcott said.

The Beaumont project anchored Woodside's plans to invest up to US$5 billion in new energy projects worldwide by 2030. On Tuesday, Woodside walked away from that target, citing delays to policy frameworks and slow development of some clean-energy markets. Traditional fuel producers are benefiting from high energy prices driven by the Middle East conflict and continued Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure, prompting governments to roll back environmental regulations. President Trump led by shredding U.S. climate policies, while the U.K. appears poised to allow new North Sea oil production, and Canada dismantled its carbon tax.

Beaumont's first phase targets 1.1 million metric tons of ammonia annually, using low-carbon hydrogen production and carbon-capture technology from Linde, which has agreements with Exxon Mobil for CO2 transport and storage. The facility produced traditional gray ammonia for the first time in December.