US energy giant Chevron is evaluating jetty facilities at the Harold E Holt communications base at Exmouth as a potential third major supply base for its Gorgon and Wheatstone liquefied natural gas projects.
The Point Murat navy pier has been a vital landing facility for the base since it was established to communicate with US submarines in 1967.
But the base has been of less strategic significance since it was handed over to the Australian Navy in the early 1990s, and is now operated under contract by Boeing Australia.
The Commonwealth Department of Defence formally sought expressions of interest to lease and use the jetty facility in June this year, for an initial period of six years.
WA Business News understands that Chevron has submitted an offer to lease the facility to support exploration and development activities associated with the Gorgon and Wheatstone projects.
Currently, Chevron is reliant on supply bases at Dampier and the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson.
Chevron’s proposal comes amid expectations the Harold E Holt base will be upgraded to become part of the US Space Surveillance Network.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith last month said discussions about Australia’s potential involvement in the network were ongoing.