The ageing offshore oil and gas monuments stood proud over the vast Australian coast, where they played their part in powering the nation—now, they face a destiny of destruction. The Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) announced on March 10 that it had set a target that will see the expensive oil and gas infrastructure removed over a 50-year process, in an effort to reduce the sizable $52.9 billion (USD $40.5 billion) price tag. The removal comes not as a result of carbon emission reduction policies, but as part of an existing plan to decommission old oil and gas structures that have reached the end of their designated lifespan. “Decommissioning of assets and development of new assets is a normal part of any industry and its development cycle,” an Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email. “We’re expecting the Australian oil and gas industry …