First shipment from Australia Pacific LNG project

Published Monday, 11 January, 2016 at 01:44 PM

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
The Honourable Dr Anthony Lynham

Queensland's LNG industry passed another milestone today with the first shipment from the $US24.7 billion APLNG project destined for Asia.

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham said the milestone was a culmination of the efforts of thousands of workers engaged by APLNG joint venture partners Origin Energy, ConocoPhillips and Sinopec and their contractors.

“APLNG expect to reach full production from the two LNG trains by the end of 2016,” he said.

"Overall, Queensland's LNG industry is ramping up, having already exported $1.75 billion worth of gas from last year.” 

“The latest forecasts for petroleum and gas royalties, including CSG, are to reach $273 million in 2016-17.

Dr Lynham said with all three LNG producers fully operational, it was estimated they could produce 25 million tonnes a year of LNG for export. 

"Exports are projected to hit $15 billion by 2016-17, earning the state valuable export dollars and annual royalties while supporting thousands of jobs. 

Dr Lynham said Queensland could be the world's fourth largest LNG exporter by 2018 and, by the end of the decade, Australia had the potential to be the world's leading LNG exporter. 

Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the Gladstone community could be proud of playing such a central role in Queensland's economic growth. 

"Our community has a long history of being at the forefront of Queensland's export capability, and today is another important chapter in that story," Mr Butcher said. 

"Today is another great day for Gladstone, for the region and for Queensland."