Ichthys LNG run rate near full capacity as of end-April, says Inpex exec
- Ichthys run rate fell to 80%–90% in mid-April due to glitch
- Maintenance planned at Ichthys from mid-August to October
The run rate at the Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Australia, operated by Japan's biggest oil and gas explorer Inpex, had recovered to nearly full capacity as of end-April, a company executive said on Tuesday.
The plant's run rate had fallen to 80%–90% in mid-April due to a heat exchanger problem, senior vice president Daisuke Yamada told a news conference.
Ichthys LNG will conduct scheduled maintenance for about a month and a half from mid-August to October, during which Inpex plans to replace the heat exchanger, he said.
Yamada also said production at Ichthys this year would be similar to last year's levels, though he did not specify how many cargoes the plant would export.
Inpex said in mid-April that the plant's rate of production had decreased temporarily. Last year, the plant saw the shutdown of its trains in July and August, as well as a reduction in the rate of operations for the inspection of heat exchangers.
Ichthys LNG is a joint venture between Inpex, TotalEnergies and the Australian subsidiaries of CPC Corporation Taiwan, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric Power, JERA and Toho Gas.
The plant's two processing trains can produce around 9 metric MMtpy of LNG.
Inpex cut its annual net profit forecast by 9% from February's estimate to 300 B yen ($2.03 B) on Tuesday, citing lower oil prices and a stronger yen. The company reported a 4% rise in net profit for the January-March quarter.
Asked about potential involvement in the $44-B Alaska LNG project, Yamada said: "I don't believe it's a project that a private company can pursue with the expectation of making it profitable,” adding that Inpex is not considering anything specific now.
U.S. President Donald Trump has touted the project, which would deliver gas from the state's North Slope fields via an 800-mile-long (1,300-km) pipeline for domestic use and also ship it to Asia as LNG.
($1 = 148.0700 yen)
Related News
Related News
- Three killed, two injured in accident at LNG construction site in Texas (U.S.)
- Update: How Germany is building up LNG import terminals
- TotalEnergies and partners launch the 2nd phase of Northern Lights CCS project
- Digital Exclusive: The value of experience—Why expertise matters in compressor overhauls and revamps
- Croatia's LNG terminal to auction 0.75 Bm3 of regasification capacity in May
Comments