THE $11 billion Gorgon gas project off Western Australia’s north-west coast has announced plans to sell liquefied natural gas into Japan, the world’s largest LNG market. Chevron Australia, a 50 per cent Gorgon stakeholder, has signed a heads of agreement with major Japanese utility Tokyo Gas for 1.2 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of Gor-gon LNG for 25 years beginning in 2010. The parties are also discussing the potential sale and purchase of an equity interest in the Gorgon project. Financial details were not disclosed, but the yet to be finalised $8 billion deal makes Tokyo Gas the project’s foundation customer. About 33 per cent of Gorgon’s planned 10mtpa production has now been committed, including 2.5mtpa to Gorgon partner Shell, ahead of an official project go ahead expected by the middle of next year.