INPEX chief outlines road ahead following meeting with Prime Minister Morrison and Darwin board

ENERGY News spoke with INPEX President and CEO Takayuki Ueda last week following his meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison to discuss the future of the company in Australia. This comes as the company's board held its annual meeting in Darwin, the first time it has been held outside of Japan.

"We are using this opportunity to showcase our achievements here to our directors, many of whom are visiting Australia for the first time, and to discuss opportunities to expand our business here," Mr Ueda said.

"Ichthys LNG is the crown jewel in our global portfolio of projects.

"Ichthys is vital to the future of INPEX. Australia is very important in this regard and Ichthys LNG is our pride and joy."

INPEX announced the final investment decision for the project in January 2012, with the first LNG cargo departing the Ichthys LNG onshore facilities at Bladin Point near Darwin on 22 October 2018.

Since that first cargo, more than 100 cargoes of all product types (LNG, LPG and condensate) have safely departed Australia - with each cargo supporting a brighter future for communities here in Australia and across the globe.

"We are currently focused on the smooth ramping up of our Ichthys LNG onshore facilities, but at the same time there is potential to expand production in Australia through onshore and offshore opportunities" he said.

 "We consider surrounding areas in the vicinity of the Ichthys Field to be highly prospective. In the future, offshore gas could be accessed through the five tie-in points that are strategically located along the Ichthys Gas Export Pipeline.

"We have room for up to four additional LNG processing trains in Darwin. For example, gas to feed an expansion train could come from the onshore Beetaloo Basin, or large gas fields in the offshore Bonaparte Basin.

"Of course, any new gas find would need to be commercially viable to support the development of a third train at Bladin Point."

Recently securing agreement from the Indonesian government for the Abadi LNG Project Plan of Development, INPEX is also looking to this huge development as a cornerstone of future expansion and production in the region.

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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