Inpex shutdown will generate hundreds of jobs and tens-of-millions in revenues

A key industrial shutdown is expected to generate hundreds-of-millions in revenue. Read what’s closing.

One of the Northern Territory’s largest companies is preparing for a shutdown that will generate an additional $200 million into the local and national economies.

Japanese energy company Inpex is in the middle of premobilisation activities which commenced in April, with Ichthys’ LNG onshore facility and its two LNG trains set for an overhaul.

“Planned maintenance campaigns are important in maintaining safe, reliable, and efficient operating facilities,” an Inpex spokesperson said.

“The 2025 maintenance shutdown is the third ­and largest maintenance campaign for Ichthys’ LNG onshore since production commenced in mid-2018.

“Planned maintenance shutdown activity is required to support the continued safe operation of Ichthys LNG for our workforce and the Darwin community.”

The Pacific Breeze at the Inpex onshore facilities

Inpex estimates the shutdown cost at the Ichthys LNG plant at Darwin’s Bladin Point will be in excess of A$200 million, with 22 local companies contracted during the maintenance shutdown.

The company estimates Inpex’ onshore workforce will increase from 600 to more than 1600 people during the maintenance program.

Workers will be housed at Bladin Village and bussed to site daily to minimise impact on the community.

“Premobilisation activities commenced in April 2025, with shutdown scopes reaching their peak from late August to late September, finalising work scopes in October,” a spokesperson said.

“At Ichthys LNG, we service key pieces of infrastructure during planned maintenance campaigns.”

The Inpex project consists of deep offshore production facilities, two floating production units, a gas pipeline and a liquefaction plant.

The gas and condensate are extracted from the about 250 metre deep Ichthys field in the Browse Basin, located 200 kilometres off the northern coast of Western Australia.

They are initially processed on a semi-submersible platform known as a central processing facility, where the gas and liquids are separated.

The condensate - in the form of liquid molecules - is then transferred over to a 336 metre-long floating production storage and offloading unit, where it is processed, stored and exported to Japan.

A 890km gas pipeline, of which about 882km is sub-sea, transports the remaining gas to the Bladin Point liquefaction plant in northern Australia.

The gas loses much of its volume when it is processed into liquid form and can therefore be transported via LNG carrier.

Originally published as Inpex shutdown will generate hundreds of jobs and tens-of-millions in revenues