LOC wins Ichthys LNG contract

Marine and engineering consultancy LOC Group has secured a five-year contract from Japan’s Inpex for the latter’s Ichthys LNG project in Australia.

The deal covers the provision of marine warranty services and marine assurance for the project and its associated drilling operations.

According to London-based LOC, the deal will include warranty review and approval for the loadout, transportation and installation activities of new field architecture.

LOC says it has supported Inpex on the Ichthys development for the past seven years adding it was “very pleased” to win this additional work.

The consultancy did not reveal financial details of the deal.

Speaking about finances, Inpex announced on Tuesday the completion of previously launched refinancing for its Ichthys project.

The new refinancing deal covers $8.3 billion out of the project’s total 15.6 billion finance loans.

The Ichthys project produces LNG at the 8.9 million tonnes per year plant at Bladin Point near Darwin.

Natural gas arrives in Darwin from the giant Ichthys field offshore Western Australia via an 890-kilometre export pipeline.

Ichthys LNG is a joint venture between operator Inpex and major partner Total of France.

Other partners in the project include CPC Corporation Taiwan, Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Kansai Electric Power, JERA and Toho Gas.