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Besides LNG shipments, the Ichthys project also sent 20 plant condensate cargoes, 28 offshore condensate cargoes, and 30 LPG cargoes in 2024, the spokesman said.
This compares to 23 plant condensate cargoes, 29 offshore condensate cargoes, and 34 LPG cargoes in 2023.
In 2023, the LNG plant sent a record 129 LNG cargoes, 17 cargoes more compared to 2022, as part of the company’s plans to boost production to about 9.3 mtpa due to debottlenecking.
The plant shipped 11 LNG cargoes in 2018, 104 LNG cargoes in 2019, 122 LNG cargoes in 2020, 117 LNG cargoes in 2021, and 112 LNG cargoes in 2022.
Ichthys LNG is a joint venture between operator Inpex and major partner TotalEnergies.
Earlier this year, Inpex also purchased a small stake in Ichthys LNG from compatriot Tokyo Gas to boost its stake from 66.245 percent to 67.82 percent.
Besides TotalEnergies, other partners in the Ichthys project include Australian units of CPC, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric Power, Jera, and Toho Gas.
Natural gas arrives to the LNG plant at Bladin Point, near Darwin, from the giant Ichthys field offshore Western Australia via an 890-kilometer-long export pipeline.
Inpex shipped 66 LNG cargoes from its Ichthys export plant during the first half of 2024, one cargo more compared to the same period in 2023.
However, Ichthys LNG Train 2 was taken offline on August 20 due to a heat exchanger issue. It was then returned to service on October 9 after repairs were completed.
On September 10, Inpex announced it had decided to reduce Train 1’s rate of operations to about 70 percent to carry out inspections as the unit is using the same equipment as Train 2.
The first liquefaction train resumed full operations in early December.
Maintenance
Asked about the 2025 shipment outlook, the Inpex spokesman said that the company “will likely be announcing that in conjunction with the upcoming year-end financial results next month.”
As for maintenance in 2025, the spokesman confirmed that Inpex plans to conduct maintenance during August-October, but “these dates are subject to change.”
Data posted on the Inpex Australia website shows that the maintenance scope includes both Ichthys LNG trains.
Inpex plans to start maintenance on August 16 and complete it on October 8.
In addition, the scope also includes Ichthys Explorer CPF and Ichthys Venturer FPSO.
Inpex aims to begin maintenance on the CPF on August 17 and the FPSO on August 27.
Maintenance work on both facilities is expected to be completed on October 6.
