A decision to approve an operating licence for the nation's biggest gas project until 2070 is a shameful betrayal that will impact generations, conservationists say.

The federal government green-lit the 40-year extension for Woodside Energy's controversial North West Shelf development in Western Australia's Pilbara region on Friday.

Environment Minister Murray Watt said 48 restrictions on the project would help protect world-heritage-listed Indigenous rock art near an onshore processing facility, while allowing gas and oil processing to continue.

"The conditions will ensure that this project will be operated in a way that does not cause unacceptable impacts to the Murujuga rock art," he said.

Environmental advocates have reacted angrily to the extension, accusing the Albanese governmen

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