INPEX delays start, raises capacity of Ichthys LNG project in Australia

INPEX has updated the expected production start-up schedule and raised the anticipated production capacity of the Ichthys LNG project, which it is currently developing as operator alongside its project partners.

Production, which was initially expected to start toward the end of December 2016, is now expected to start in the third quarter of 2017. Meanwhile, INPEX will raise the annual LNG production capacity by approximately 6%.

Since January 2012, when INPEX announced its final investment decision on the Ichthys LNG project, the company has worked on developing the project in various locations around the world. While the project’s overall development was approximately 74% complete as of June 2015, INPEX updated the production start schedule based on the findings of a detailed review of the project’s development schedule.

It is expected that the revised production start-up schedule and other factors will increase the project’s investment. However, the increase is expected to be limited to approximately 10%.

INPEX anticipates that the annual LNG production capacity will increase by approximately 6% to 8.9 mtpa from the initially planned 8.4 mtpa. This increase in production capacity is based on the company’s recent technical evaluation of the latest technological information pertaining to the entire LNG production system.

In addition, the updated schedule reflects the expectation of a shortened time frame between the start of production and the point where stable production is reached.

“The Ichthys LNG project is a world-class project with an expected operational life of at least 40 years. All the LNG initially planned to be produced from the project has been sold,” INPEX CEO Toshiaki Kitamura said.

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