16 April 2014
ATN
Toll Group, a leading provider of transport and logistics to the resources sector, has started works on the offshore logistics base it is constructing for INPEX’s historic Ichthys LNG project.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles joined Toll Global Resources CEO David Jackson and INPEX Director, Corporate Coordination, Hitoshi Okawa, for the official ground-breaking ceremony in Darwin today.
Toll will construct and operate the base, on a four-and-a-half hectare site in Darwin’s East Arm industrial precinct, for global oil and gas exploration and production company INPEX.
The base will remotely support the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG project’s major offshore facilities in the Ichthys Field, about 820 kilometres south-west of Darwin in the Browse Basin.
Giles, speaking at today’s event, says it’s encouraging to see two industry-leaders in Toll and INPEX investing in the Northern Territory.
“It is heartening to see what is essentially a ‘vote of confidence’ investment by INPEX and Toll in the Northern Territory,” he says.
“Not only will this supply base create up to 120,000 man-hours of employment during construction, and up to 20 permanent jobs once completed, but it will also create flow-on employment for all of the services that will support the base.
“As part of our push for Northern Australia development, the Government is working to establish the Territory as a central support base for the offshore LNG industry. This project is an important step in that direction.”
INPEX’s Hitoshi Okawa says the facilities will play a crucial role in supporting the LNG project’s offshore operations.
“Our central processing facility and floating production, storage and offloading vessel will be two of the biggest pieces of infrastructure in the oil and gas industry,” he says.
“With an operational life of at least 40 years – without docking – a base that can provide the maintenance, store critical spares and spare parts for these facilities, while also supporting brownfield work, is vital to our success.”
Toll Global Resources CEO David Jackson adds the variety of work required by the company to operate the base is an excellent example of Toll’s capabilities in servicing the oil and gas sector.
“This project exemplifies our commitment to invest in world-class facilities for our customers’ world-class projects, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with INPEX during the life of the Ichthys project,” he says.
Jackson also thanked the Northern Territory Government, local council and Land Development Corporation for working to help to develop such a landmark project.
Construction is expected to be completed and fully operational by early 2015.
Courtesy of ATN