US energy giant ExxonMobil is looking at the option of importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to tackle the expected gas shortage from 2021.
The company told Reuters it could start up a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility in 2022 which would add to the complement the existing Gippsland resource and infrastructure.
The company is also planning to develop the West Barracouta gas field offshore Victoria.
ExxonMobile’s LNG import plans would face competition from AGL Energy that is looking to build an LNG import facility at Crip Point in Victoria as well as the Australian-led consortium, Australian Industrial Energy (AIE) that is planning to build an import facility at New South Wales’ Port Kembla .
The LNG import project, as well as the development of the West Barracouta field, would support the volumes from the Gippsland joint venture with BHP Billiton, that will be halved by 2022.
The project would be able to use the existing infrastructure in developing the LNG import plant at a lower cost compared to its competitors.