The Northern Territory Government has congratulated INPEX and the Ichthys LNG joint venture participants on the first LNG export from the Ichthys LNG onshore processing facilities in Darwin.
The first export shipment occurred late on Monday evening in the purpose-built carrier Pacific Breeze and marks a significant milestone in the projects history.
It is the first of at least 40 years worth of exports from the onshore processing facilities in Darwin.
The project represents Japans largest ever investment outside Japan, and has made INPEX the Territorys single largest investor.
Darwin LNG and the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG will supply more than 10% of Japans total annual LNG imports. The Territory has land available for future expansions which could more than triple LNG production.
The Territory has estimated onshore gas resources of 500 trillion cubic feet (approx. 400 years supply for Australia) and 30tcf in offshore resources.
ACIL Allen has forecast that at peak production, the economic output of the project will be $4.5 billion per annum.
The INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project has created more than 11,000 local job opportunities during the construction phase, with more than 1,150 local businesses engaged by the Project during construction. More than 60 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses have been awarded contracts through the project amounting to more than $134 million to date.
It is expected around 350 people will be working on site each day during the ongoing operating phase.
Investment in facilities at Bladin Point will continue, with INPEX expected to outlay hundreds of millions each year to support operations.
As noted by Chief Minister Michael Gunner
The Ichthys LNG Project was secured by a Labor Government in 2012 and remains one of the biggest projects ever undertaken in the Southern Hemisphere. It clearly demonstrates the capacity of Territorians to deliver world class gas facilities, and the importance of this sector to our economy.
During its peak the project created around 11,000 jobs with more than 1000 local businesses engaged in the project in construction. We have released a Five Point NT Gas Strategy to continue creating jobs through exploration, production, supply, export, manufacturing, research and innovation, and have re-established the NT Gas Task Force to implement the strategy.
This first export shipment marks a very important milestone for the Ichthys LNG project, and I congratulate INPEX and its partners.
