ID :
21583
Sat, 09/27/2008 - 18:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/21583
The shortlink copeid
Inpex chooses Darwin for $24b LNG plant
aap - Darwin has been selected as the site for a $24.06 billion gas processing plant - the largest single private-sector project in Australian history.
Japanese oil and gas producer Inpex on Friday said it had opted for Darwin over
Western Australia as the site for its plant.
The announcement justified Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson's
decision to call an early election to give the company "certainty" over the project.
"The Inpex gas plant will help secure our economic future for decades to come. This
means thousands of jobs and careers for Territorians," Mr Henderson, who went to the
polls last month instead of in the middle of next year, said.
"This is a proud day for my government - the NT started as underdogs but through
hard work and determination we have been able to win."
The company said the designated industrial site at Blaydin Point on Middle Arm
Peninsula in Darwin had been selected as the location for its proposed liquefied
natural gas (LNG) processing facility.
Inpex president Naoki Kuroda said Darwin provided the company with the certainty
required for the project's tight schedule, aimed at making its first LNG shipment in
late 2014 or early 2015.
Initial production is expected to top eight million tonnes of LNG and 1.6 million
tonnes of LPG each year.
The forecasted production volumes represent about 50 per cent of current Australian
annual LNG production and some 60 per cent of current Australian LPG production.
About 2,000 jobs will be created in the construction phase, with a extra 300 when
the gas plant becomes operational.
Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson said the announcement heralded
a new era in Australia's relationship with Japan.
"I hope this project will be one of many established over the next few years, as we
continue to unlock the wealth from Australia's immense gas and energy resources," he
said.
"Today's announcement confirms Australia is an attractive place to invest and a
world-class gas province."
Inpex had originally planned to build an LNG plant on the Maret Islands, about 200km
north of Broome in WA, to process gas shipped from its Browse Basin Ichthys gas
field.
But environmentalists seeking to protect the Kimberley coast put a brake on
negotiations, prompting Darwin to lobby the company.
The Ichthys field, off the WA coast, is to be developed by Inpex in partnership with
French oil company Total.
Inpex said more than $24.06 billion in capital expenditure was required to construct
the offshore and onshore facilities required to produce gas, condensate offshore,
and deliver gas from the Ichthys field to the Darwin processing plant via an 850km
pipeline.
Inpex anticipates the project being operational for 40 years.
Japanese oil and gas producer Inpex on Friday said it had opted for Darwin over
Western Australia as the site for its plant.
The announcement justified Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson's
decision to call an early election to give the company "certainty" over the project.
"The Inpex gas plant will help secure our economic future for decades to come. This
means thousands of jobs and careers for Territorians," Mr Henderson, who went to the
polls last month instead of in the middle of next year, said.
"This is a proud day for my government - the NT started as underdogs but through
hard work and determination we have been able to win."
The company said the designated industrial site at Blaydin Point on Middle Arm
Peninsula in Darwin had been selected as the location for its proposed liquefied
natural gas (LNG) processing facility.
Inpex president Naoki Kuroda said Darwin provided the company with the certainty
required for the project's tight schedule, aimed at making its first LNG shipment in
late 2014 or early 2015.
Initial production is expected to top eight million tonnes of LNG and 1.6 million
tonnes of LPG each year.
The forecasted production volumes represent about 50 per cent of current Australian
annual LNG production and some 60 per cent of current Australian LPG production.
About 2,000 jobs will be created in the construction phase, with a extra 300 when
the gas plant becomes operational.
Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson said the announcement heralded
a new era in Australia's relationship with Japan.
"I hope this project will be one of many established over the next few years, as we
continue to unlock the wealth from Australia's immense gas and energy resources," he
said.
"Today's announcement confirms Australia is an attractive place to invest and a
world-class gas province."
Inpex had originally planned to build an LNG plant on the Maret Islands, about 200km
north of Broome in WA, to process gas shipped from its Browse Basin Ichthys gas
field.
But environmentalists seeking to protect the Kimberley coast put a brake on
negotiations, prompting Darwin to lobby the company.
The Ichthys field, off the WA coast, is to be developed by Inpex in partnership with
French oil company Total.
Inpex said more than $24.06 billion in capital expenditure was required to construct
the offshore and onshore facilities required to produce gas, condensate offshore,
and deliver gas from the Ichthys field to the Darwin processing plant via an 850km
pipeline.
Inpex anticipates the project being operational for 40 years.
