Australia LNG – delays will not stop the deluge

New Australian LNG export projects are scheduled to bring additional supplies to the market this year. However, some of the terminals which are scheduled to commission this year face development challenges, and not all of the planned new capacity will start operations in 2017. Setbacks to commissioning look likely to reduce the LNG supply glut in 2017; and delays in these flows will see Australia’s projects deliver a greater surge of new supply in 2018.

Last year, Australia Pacific LNG, Gorgon LNG and Gladstone LNG all commissioned trains. When these trains have fully ramped up they will add around 23 mtpa to Australia’s LNG export capacity. Australian LNG export volumes rose by around 35% on an annual basis last year, with new supply from the Queensland CBM projects driving the increase. As these new projects ramp up to full capacity over the next 12 months, their additional volumes will support considerable growth in Australian LNG exports.