Work starts on Darwin logistics base

Toll Group has commenced construction in Darwin of the logistics base that will support INPEX's Ichthys LNG project

The building of the logistics base that will serve INPEX’s Ichthys LNG project has commenced, with an official ground breaking ceremony in Darwin today attended by the Northern Territory’s Chief Minister, Adam Giles, along with Toll Global Resources CEO, David Jackson, and INPEX Director, Corporate Coordination, Hitoshi Okawa.

The base will be built by Toll Group on a 4.5-hectare site in Darwin’s East Arm industrial precinct. When finished it will service the major INPEX-operated offshore facilities in the Ichthys Field, located around 820 kilometres southwest of Darwin in the Browse Basin.

Chief Minister Giles welcomed the two companies’ significant investment in the Northern Territory.

“It is heartening to see what is essentially a ‘vote of confidence’ investment by INPEX and Toll in the Northern Territory,” he said.

“Not only will this supply base create up to 120,000 man-hours of employment during construction, and up to 20 permanent jobs once completed, but it will also create flow-on employment for all of the services that will support the base.

“As part of our push for Northern Australia development, the Government is working to establish the Territory as a central support base for the offshore LNG industry. This project is an important step in that direction.”

Mr Okawa said the magnitude of the development underlined INPEX’s commitment to the project.

“Our central processing facility and floating production, storage and offloading vessel will be two of the biggest pieces of infrastructure in the oil and gas industry,” he said.

“With an operational life of at least 40 years – without docking – a base that can provide the maintenance, store critical spares and spare parts for these facilities, while also supporting brownfield work, is vital to our success.”

Mr Jackson said the construction of the base showcased Toll’s broad capabilities.

“This project exemplifies our commitment to invest in world-class facilities for our customers’ world-class projects, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with INPEX during the life of the Ichthys Project,” he said.

The base will be fully operational by early 2015.

Work starts on Darwin logistics base

Tags