Total: Ichthys LNG project unaffected by SHI shipyard accident

France’s Total said the start-up of Inpex-operated Ichthys LNG project in which the company owns a 30 percent interest, in unaffected following a tragic accident at the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea.

The company said it has assessed the status of some of its projects, the Martin Linge in Norway, Egina project in Nigeria and the Ichthys LNG project in Australia.

Total said that the CPF for the Ichthys project, operated by Inpex, had already departed the Geoje yard several days before the accident and is now installed on the field in offshore Australia, and therefore has not been impacted by the accident.

However, the work related to the works related to the Martin Linge project were suspended until June 1, while works on the Egina FPSO resumed following a two-week suspension and the impact on the project, which is expected to start up in second half 2018, will be limited, Total said.

Arnaud Breuillac, president, exploration & production at Total, said the company has “dispatched its experts to join the ongoing investigation to identify the fundamental causes of the accident and implement the necessary preventive measures to avoid any reoccurrence of such accidents.”

To remind, six people died and more than 20 were injured when a crane collapsed at a Samsung Heavy Industries Geoje yard on May 1.