INPEX and Total E&P Australia form the joint venture planning the LNG facilities that will link to the offshore Ichthys Gas Field. An 885 km pipeline will transfer gas from the field to the onshore processing facilities at Blaydin Point.
The Northern Territory Government did not specify any changes to INPEX’s stated plans, but offered recommendations for greenhouse gas offsets, the removal of monsoon vine forests and the managing of harbour impacts around dredging.
INPEX President Director Australia Seiya Ito said “INPEX has made every effort to produce an environmental impact statement that meets the expectations of the Northern Territory community [which] the Northern Territory Government has endorsed.”
The environmental approval process will now continue with a decision from Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke due next month. The approval of the Ichthys project, which aims for LNG exports in 2014, would be Japan’s biggest investment in Australia.
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