Inpex hails first LNG cargo from Ichthys
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Tokyo-based Inpex has achieved a significant milestone, with the first shipment of LNG departing the company’s $46 billion Ichthys project at its onshore plant in Darwin.
The first LNG shipment is destined for the Inpex-operated Naoetsu LNG terminal in Japan.
“First cargo from Ichthys LNG is a historic moment for Inpex, Japan and Australia,” Inpex president director Australia Seiya Ito said.
“It demonstrates our commitment to being a safe, reliable long-term energy supplier.
“With an operating life of around 40 years, Ichthys LNG will be delivering benefits to the Australian economy and community for decades to come.”
Inpex's Australian operations are headquartered in Perth and gas for the project is extracted from fields off the Kimberley coast.
A report by Acil Allen Consulting forecast a $34 billion boost to Western Australian income across the period to 2050, and generate about $73 billion of tax revenue.
About 70 per cent of the LNG produced by Ichthys LNG is scheduled to be supplied to Japanese customers.
The departure of the LNG cargo follows the project’s shipment of field condensate (ultra-light crude oil), which commenced at the start of October.
The project is also scheduled to commence the shipment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) later this year.
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association chief executive Malcolm Roberts congratulated Inpex.
“Industry applauds this first LNG shipment using the purpose-built Pacific Breeze destined for the INPEX operated Naoetsu LNG terminal in Japan,” Mr Roberts said.
“This world-class LNG project, seven years in the making, will deliver jobs, taxation and export revenues for Australia for decades to come.
“More than 30,000 people worldwide have worked on this project, including up to 10,000 workers in Darwin during the plant’s construction phase, providing a major economic boost for the Northern Territory.”
Six new LNG projects have now been completed since 2014 (QCLNG, GLNG, Australia Pacific LNG, Gorgon, Wheatstone and Ichthys) with the Prelude Floating LNG also nearing completion.