Inpex boss considers Ichthys and Beetaloo Basin expansions

The head of Japanese energy giant Inpex has flagged potential plans to expand the Ichthys LNG onshore processing facilities in Darwin

Inpex president and CEO Takayuki Ueda toured Ichthys LNG onshore processing facilities in Darwin. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford.

THE head of Japanese energy giant Inpex has flagged potential plans to expand the Ichthys LNG onshore processing facilities in Darwin.

Inpex president and CEO Takayuki Ueda also said the corporation was “very interested” in expanding its onshore activities in the Beetaloo Basin.

He joined Inpex’s Board of Directors as they swapped in their suits for some high-vis work gear to tour Ichthys LNG onshore processing facilities today.

“We have two trains but there is enough space here in Darwin for the construction of four additional trains and in the pipeline we have five tie in points,” he said.

The Inpex Corportation Board of Directors are visiting Darwin for the first time. Picture Katrina Bridgeford.

“We are going to develop, not only to maintain the Ichthys project as it is now, but to expand the production of gas both onshore and offshore.”

He said Inpex had already discovered natural gas in 11 of their 20 offshore acreages, so they saw there was “a lot of possibility for the expansion of the plant”.

The board of directors will consider the plans as they meet in Darwin today, which will also be their first time holding a board meeting outside of Japan.

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“The main agenda for this board meeting will be to confirm the current situation and consider the next activity of Inpex in Darwin,” Mr Ueda said.

“Therefore I believe that we will of course address the possibility of expanding our activities onshore in the Beetaloo Basin.

“We already have some acreage at the Beetalo Basin and need to consult with local government and first nations people so that we can move towards another stage of exploration

“We are operating a Shell Oil plant in Eagle Ford in the United States and we have some good fracturing technologies domestically in Japan.

“Maybe we can consider bringing those technologies to the Beetalo Basin in the future.

“I believe there’s a lot of potential but need to see whether we can produce natural gas there in a very commercially viable way.”