Inpex boss Takayuki Ueda visits Darwin to drive carbon capture focus

The boss of a leading global gas player was in Darwin acknowledging the NT’s role in the world’s energy future. Read what he said.

Inpex Corporation president and chief executive Takayuki Ueda travelled to Darwin to thank stakeholders and acknowledge the shared energy commitment developed between Tokyo and the Territory.

Mr Ueda hosted a business breakfast at Mindil Beach Casino Resort last week, acknowledging Australia and the tropical north’s key role in the Japanese company’s success.

Mr Ueda emphasised the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable gas along with its joint-venture partners TotalEnergies and Woodside as part of the Bonaparte CCS assessment He said the project had safely completed a 3D seismic program about 260km from Darwin.

Inpex president and chief executive Takayuki Ueda (short sleeves) in Darwin last week.

Inpex’ $45bn Ichthys LNG field in Western Australia’s Browse Basin is the company’s single biggest operation, with the capacity to produce up to 9.3m tonnes of LNG and 1.65m tonnes of LPG a year and up to 100,000 barrels of condensate per day.

It has successfully drilled its first CCs appraisal well and is nearing completion of a second well.

The activity is supported from Darwin and with early well appraisal delivering promising outcomes, it’s hoped the Bonaparte project will become one of the world’s largest CCS developments.

Inpex wants to introduce carbon capture and storage to Ichthys LNG by the end of the decade with the removal of CO2 from the Ichthys gas reservoir.

In addition, Inpex has ambitions to replace Ichthys gas with gas from the Timor Sea’s Cash-Maple field by the mid 2030s, which it owns jointly with TotalEnergies.

Mr Ueda told guests in Darwin that being part of the Territory’s economic and social fabric was a great privilege.

“Inpex is a proud member of the Territory business community,” Mr Ueda said.

“Our business continues to thrive thanks to the valuable collaboration we enjoy across all levels of government and with Traditional Owners, community groups, industry, peak bodies as well as our own workforce.

“It has been another significant year for INPEX Australia, in our journey to produce ever cleaner, diversified and more secure energy. We are working hard to help reshape the Australian energy landscape by decarbonising our upstream operations and investing in renewable energy generation.

“And with each Ichthys LNG cargo supporting Indo-Pacific energy security, we are proudly creating positive outcomes for the Darwin community, through jobs, training and social and economic benefits.”