Woodside Energy’s Senegal Saga: Arbitration Drama and Project Delays Take Center Stage
Woodside Energy Group (WDS) finds itself in hot water—again—as arbitration with Senegal drags on and project timelines stretch into the horizon. Because nothing says ’stable investment’ like legal battles and shifting deadlines.
The energy giant’s stock moves hinge on resolving its West African standoff, while analysts wonder if extended projects will ever materialize. Spoiler: shareholders aren’t holding their breath.
Meanwhile, the usual suspects on Wall Street still call it a ’strategic pause.’ Funny how that phrase never appears in the fine print of their fee structures.
TLDR
- Woodside (WDS) trades at $14.51, up 1.26%
- Company files arbitration over $68.6M Senegal tax dispute
- Secures federal approval to extend North West Shelf project to 2070
- Sangomar field reached first oil in June 2024
- Earnings date set for August 18, 2025
Woodside Energy Group Ltd. (NYSE: WDS) closed at $14.51, up 1.26%, as it faces tax disputes and pursues major project expansions.
Woodside Energy Group Ltd. (WDS)
The company’s upcoming earnings date is August 18, 2025. Investors are watching closely as Woodside moves forward with both legal and operational milestones in its oil and gas portfolio.
Arbitration Over Senegal Tax Dispute
Woodside holds an 82% stake in Senegal’s Sangomar offshore oil and gas field. In August 2024, the company filed court action over a $68.6 million tax dispute. With local negotiations stalling, Woodside escalated the matter by filing a complaint at the World Bank’s International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Woodside Energy seeks arbitration in dispute with Senegal https://t.co/3ioeZkApbq
— Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) June 2, 2025
A spokesperson stressed that Woodside believes it has complied fully with local regulations and owes no outstanding taxes. The Sangomar field, which began producing oil in June 2024, is projected to deliver 100,000 barrels per day, highlighting its importance in Woodside’s global operations.
North West Shelf Project Extension Approved
Separately, Woodside secured environmental approval from Australia’s Federal Government to extend the life of the North West Shelf gas project until 2070. This project has supplied energy to Western Australia for 40 years and served international customers for 35 years. The extension promises to support thousands of jobs and sustain energy security in the region.
The Govt has approved one of the biggest fossil fuel projects in our history
The NW Shelf Extension threatens to destroy 47,000 yr old petroglyphs & will drive more extreme bushfires, droughts & floods. This isn’t leadership- it’s a betrayal of our futurehttps://t.co/oFjoUgBuAL pic.twitter.com/UiklrYuP0v
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) May 29, 2025
Liz Westcott, Woodside’s executive vice-president and COO, emphasized the project’s national significance, noting it has generated over A$40 billion in royalties and taxes and provided over 6,000 petajoules of domestic gas. Environmental conditions tied to the extension include measures to cut air emissions, manage greenhouse gases, and ensure consultation with traditional owners.
Financial and Valuation Snapshot
Woodside reports a market cap of $27.23 billion and a trailing P/E ratio of 7.67, with forward P/E at 14.56. It carries $4.11 billion in cash and maintains a total debt-to-equity ratio of 32.14%. Its net income over the trailing twelve months stands at $3.57 billion on $13.18 billion in revenue, delivering a solid profit margin of 27.11%.
Performance Overview
Despite recent challenges, Woodside has maintained resilience in some areas. Its five-year return stands at 30.36%, though the one-year return lags at -15.35%. The company also pays a forward dividend of $1.22, yielding 8.51%, appealing to income-focused investors.
Investors will watch the August 18 earnings closely to gauge how Woodside manages its international disputes, operational expansions, and financial performance amid shifting global energy markets.
