INPEX to continue investing in thousands of jobs in the Northern Territory for the foreseeable future

Thousands of Northern Territory jobs are expected to be supported every year for the decade by the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG.

MORE than 2000 Northern Territory jobs are expected to be supported every year between 2020 and 2030 by the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG.

Leading independent economics firm ACIL Allen has released a report into the long-term economics and social benefits of Ichthys LNG’s operations over the next decade.

The report found that for every full-time job created by Ichthys, a further two additional jobs were generated in the NT.

The company will directly pay $132m in wages and salaries to its NT based taskforce, while an additional $118m in indirect wages can be earned by workers across other sectors.

ACIL Allen executive director John Nicolaou said the report showed the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG energy development has had a transformational impact in the Territory.

“It has helped anchor the Northern Territory as an emerging gas province, which has the potential to become a world-class production, manufacturing and services hub,” he said.

“The transition of the project from construction to operations has had side effects. Over the longer term we will support lasting benefits to the NT.

“We’ve estimated that the project will generate tens of billions in exports, thousands of full-time jobs and will support and grow the population of the Territory.”

The report highlights that the employment created by Ichthys LNG has helped boost the Territory’s population by more than 1000 since it commenced operations.

In 2019-20, Ichthys LNG generated an economic output across sectors that was equal to one quarter of the NT’s entire economy.