December 5, 2023 [LNG Prime]- A unit of ConocoPhillips is working to resume production at the Australia Pacific LNG plant on Curtis Island after the 174,100-cbm Cesi Qingdao was moved from the terminal early Friday morning.
ConocoPhillips Australia confirmed in a statement on Friday that the 2017-buitl LNG vessel was moved from the facility following approval from Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Earlier this week, the loaded LNG tanker owned by a joint venture of MOL, Cosco Shipping, and Sinopec had lost power at the terminal’s jetty and was unable to leave.
“The ship has been moved to outer anchorage from Gladstone Harbour for further repairs by the ship owner in accordance with regulators’ safety orders,” ConocoPhillips Australia said.
ConocoPhillips as downstream operator will now focus on safely bringing the LNG facility back into operation to resume LNG production, it said.
Three LNG cargoes
Shareholder and upstream APLNG operator, Origin Energy, said in a separate statement that it will start ramping up production to return the flow of gas to the LNG facility to normal levels.
Origin, which is subject to a takeover offer from a consortium consisting of Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management and a unit of US-based energy investor EIG, expects the LNG facility to recommence loading operations overnight.
“In total, three LNG cargoes were unable to be loaded during this event,” the company said.
Origin currently owns a 22.5 percent in the APLNG project, while Sinopec owns a 25 percent share in the project.
US energy giant ConocoPhillips has a 47.5 percent share in the APLNG project and operates the 9 mtpa LNG export facility on Curtis Island near Gladstone.
However, ConocoPhillips revealed plans in March to become upstream operator of APLNG following the closing of EIG’s transaction with Origin, and it has also agreed to purchase up to an additional 2.49 percent shareholding interest in APLNG for $0.5 billion.
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