BG Starts Commercial Ops from QCLNG T2

BG Group announced today that commercial operations began from the second train at its Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) plant. QGC, BG Group's Australian subsidiary, has also assumed control of Train 2 from Bechtel Australia, which built the facility.

BG Group (BRGXF) now has full control of both LNG trains and associated facilities at QCLNG. By mid-2016 the integrated project is expected to reach plateau production, producing enough LNG to load around ten vessels per month combined which is equivalent to exporting around eight million tonnes per year. Since starting production in December 2014, 71 cargoes have been shipped.

The partners in Train 2 are BG Group (97.5%) and Tokyo Gas (TOG.BE) (2.5%), which is also a foundation customer.

Helge Lund, BG Group’s Chief Executive, commented, "As we assume full control of the entire QCLNG plant, we remain focused on managing the facility safely and responsibly. The QGC and Bechtel team deserve great credit for the completion of the project, and I would also like to thank our partners, contractors, government authorities including the State of Queensland, together with the landholders and the communities from across the Surat Basin to Curtis Island for their support. They all helped us to not only connect QCLNG to more wells than any liquefaction plant in the world, but establish a new LNG industry based on natural gas in coal seams.

"With both trains now fully operational, QCLNG adds significant volumes and flexibility to our LNG shipping and marketing portfolio."