In parallel, studies for the downstream liquefaction facilities are progressing in line with the overall project schedule, and the objective is to launch the integrated FEED in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The developments are seen as another step forward for the project, which targets a final investment decision (FID) around the end of 2023 and a start-up at the end of 2027.
The Papua LNG joint venture represents more than simply an LNG project, it is committed to developing a landmark project in terms of sustainability, biodiversity, and low-carbon emissions. More specifically, gasworld understands the project will incorporate a carbon capture and storage scheme for the fields’ native carbon dioxide (CO2), which will be re-injected into the reservoirs.
Aerial photo of the coast of New Guinea with jungles and deforestation.
It also draws upon the significant expertise in LNG of TotalEnergies, as the world’s third-largest low-carbon LNG company with a global market share of around 10% and a global portfolio of nearly 50 Mt/y by 2025 thanks to its interests in liquefaction plants in all geographies.
The company benefits from an integrated position across the LNG value chain, including production, transportation, trading, and LNG bunkering and Julien Pouget – Senior Vice-President Asia Pacific for Exploration & Production and Renewables at TotalEnergies – spoke of the significance of the Papua LNG project.
Source: ©TotalEnergies
“The commencement of upstream FEED studies is another significant step towards developing the Papua LNG project, which will increase Papua New Guinea’s LNG export capacity and thus contribute to its further development,” he said.
“The Papua LNG project is well positioned to contribute to growth in LNG supply worldwide, especially for customers in Asia seeking to decarbonise from coal to gas, in line with our strategy to lower global greenhouse gas emissions.”
New ethane cracker
Meanwhile, TotalEnergies has also announced the start-up of a new ethane cracker in Port Arthur in the US, under its 50-50 Bayport Polymers LLC joint venture (JV) with Borealis.
The almost $2bn project is built on the site of and operated by the TotalEnergies Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, and will have an annual production capacity of one million tonnes of ethylene.
“After significant investments in US LNG and renewable electricity in 2022, the start-up of this new cracker is another milestone strengthening TotalEnergies’ presence in the US,” said Bernard Pinatel, President of Refining & Chemicals at TotalEnergies. “This investment is in perfect alignment with our strategy to develop petrochemicals at our integrated platforms. At Port Arthur we take advantage of the abundance of ethane in the US.”