Yesterday one of the most significant and anticipated deals in the history of Darwin was confirmed when Japanese mining conglomerate INPEX, along with French partner Total, signed the US$30 billion Ichthys gas pipeline deal.
The project will see the building of a 885km pipeline from the Ichthys gas field in Western Australia to a processing plant in Darwin; the proposed Darwin plant will include a power station, loading jetties, two processing facilities and two LNG trains. A virtual fly-through can be seen here.
Although the first LNG cargo is not expected until the end of 2016, construction of the processing plant and pipeline will begin this year.
“The Territory has secured its economic future and is on the way to becoming the oil and gas capital of Australia,” Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson said.
“It will provide 3000 jobs during construction and the resources growth will underpin our economy for the future providing training, employment and business opportunities for Territorians.”
Facts and Forecasts for the INPEX Project
- The project is expected to provide up to 10% of Japan’s energy.
- Experts predict that INPEX will boost the Northern Territory economy by 20% in gross state product per year.
- This will be the biggest investment in Australia by either Japan or France.
- The gas pipeline will run from the Northern Coast of Western Australia to Darwin.
- The pipeline will be 885km long, 42 inches in diameter and have 75,000 joints. This will be the 4th longest under-sea pipeline in the world.
- 100,000 barrels of natural gas condensate will be produced per day at peak times.
- During construction INPEX will require a 3000 strong workforce with 700 remaining during operations.
- As a result of the INPEX project, Australia will overtake Qatar as the world’s largest LNG exporter by 2017.
What INPEX Means for ICAE’s Students in Darwin
Workers in Darwin like to go out, socialise and have a good time, so with an influx of 3000 workers and their families to the Darwin area, local hospitality orgainisations will set up to cater for the large demand for entertainment consumption. This means ICAE’s international students and apprentices may see an increase in the number of jobs or shifts available, higher wages and a broader clientele. Eventually INPEX may even provide opportunities for hospitality professionals to work at the processing plants and/or housing quarters to provides hospitality services to INPEX’s 700 ongoing employees.
