LNG Project Costs Rise 21%

Woodside Petroleum Ltd said costs for the planned phase five expansion of its North-West Gas liquefied natural gas project are estimated to have risen by 21 pct to 2.42 bln aud because of higher labor charges. The company, 34 % owned by the Royal Dutch Shell group, said the spike in costs is largely due to a sharp rise, internationally, in labor charges in the construction industry. Woodside operates the project and is a one sixth owner alongside Royal Dutch Shell.

Already more than 14 bln aud has been spent on the LNG project's development over a 20-year period, making it a major LNG project by world standards. The fifth phase expansion includes the construction of an LNG processing facility with annual capacity of 4.2 mln metric tons of liquefied gas for export, largely to Asian markets.