Australia’s Jan LNG exports up 5.6 pct on month

Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports rose 5.6 percent in January to 5.6 million tonnes as compared to the previous month, according to a report by the energy consultancy, EnergyQuest.

Australian LNG export projects shipped a total of 84 cargoes last month, compared to 79 cargoes in December, the consultancy said in its monthly report.

West coast LNG projects shipped 3.9 million tonnes in January, up from 3.3 million tonnes in December. Annualised this is 45.9 million tonnes, 91.8% of nameplate capacity, excluding the Inpex-operated Ichthys project.

According to the agency, the Chevron-operated Gorgon LNG project on Barrow Island shipped 20 cargoes in January or 1.34 million tonnes. Production was 15.8 million tonnes on an annualised basis, 101% of nameplate capacity and not far behind the Woodside-operated NWS LNG project.

Chevron’s second LNG project in Western Australia, Wheatstone shipped 4 cargoes in January after no cargoes were shipped in December.

On the other side, East coast LNG exports decreased to 1.8 million tonnes in January, down from the 2 million tonnes seen in December. On an annualised basis east coast plants operated at 20.7 Mtpa in January, 82% of nameplate capacity, the report said.

EnergyQuest estimates that LNG export revenue jumped 8 percent in January to A$2.7 billion, with WA export revenue of $2 billion, Queensland revenue of $0.6 billion and Darwin revenue of $0.09 billion.