Toll opens Darwin LNG base

Toll Group has cut the ribbon on its Darwin-based offshore logistics hub for the multi-billion dollar INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project.

Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister, Willem Westra van Holthe, joined Ichthys LNG Project Managing Director, Louis Bon, and Toll Resources & Government Logistics CEO, David Jackson, to officially open the new facility.

Toll designed, built and now operates the facility on a four-and-a-half hectare site in Darwin's East Arm. The base will support the Ichthys LNG Project's major offshore facilities in the Ichthys Field in the Browse Basin, 820 kilometres southwest of Darwin.

Speaking at the opening, Deputy Chief Minister Westra van Holthe thanked INPEX, its joint venture partners and Toll for choosing Darwin as the site of the facility.

"Developing this base in Darwin has, without doubt, been a win for our local economy," Minister Westra van Holthe said.

"More than 50,000 hours of direct employment were created during construction and up to 24 permanent jobs and the flow-on employment from them will exist to run it.

"The Northern Territory Government is keen to establish the Territory as a key location for the offshore LNG industry, and developments like this go a long way to helping achieve that."

Ichthys LNG Project Managing Director Louis Bon said the supply base will play a critical support role for the project.

"With an operational life of at least 40 years and some of the largest infrastructure seen in the oil and gas industry, having a supply base that can provide maintenance, store critical spare parts and support brownfield work is vital to the project's success," he said.

"We look forward to collaborating with Toll to ensure the facility's ongoing success."

Toll Resources & Government Logistics CEO David Jackson said the facility showcases Toll's ability to design customised logistics solutions.

"The work we'll be doing for the Ichthys LNG Project at this base is one of the best examples of Toll's ability to service the oil and gas sector," he said.

"What we’ve developed here exemplifies Toll's commitment to invest in world-class facilities for our customers' world-class oil and gas projects.

"We know the success of our customers has a direct correlation to our success, so we will be doing everything we can to ensure a long and successful partnership with INPEX during the life of the Ichthys LNG Project."

Mr Jackson thanked the Northern Territory Government, the Department of Lands, the Department of Transport, the Industry Capability Network, the Chamber of Commerce and builder Ahrens for their help in developing this important support facility.

Photo (men between forklifts, from left): Ichthys LNG Project Managing Director Louis Bon, Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister Willem Westra van Holthe and Toll Resources & Government Logistics CEO David Jackson cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the facility.