Reuters is reporting that Australian Industrial Energy (AIE)’s plans regarding its Port Kembla LNG project have hit a hurdle and the project is facing a delay.
Backed by Japan’s JERA, Marubeni Corp. and Squadron Energy, AIE is struggling to lock-in customers for its new import terminal. Indeed, potential buyers, such as Origin Energy, are holding off signing contracts after a recent decline in local gas prices.
This lack of deals, and subsequent delay, has left the US$171 million Port Kembla project significantly behind its original schedule for delivering gas in late 2020. Such a delay risks AIE’s aim of opening Port Kembla before AGL Energy’s rival project – both projects are racing to meet the looming gas shortage facing Australia.
As a result of this latest setback, AIE’s backers are reportedly no longer predicting when Port Kembla will deliver first gas.