Gas imported to maintain plant

By GYNNIE KERO
EXXONMOBIL PNG is importing an LNG cargo which is needed to keep its plant outside Port Moresby at the right temperature after production was halted by last month’s earthquake.
An ExxonMobil spokesperson told The National yesterday: “ExxonMobil PNG is importing an LNG cargo to the PNG LNG plant. The imported LNG will help to maintain the temperature of LNG tanks and marine terminal loading facilities to avoid a lengthy re-cooling period when we restart.
“In addition, a small amount of gas is used as a fuel source for the plant’s gas turbine generators, which help keep the plant in safe operating condition.
“These generators are also continuing to supply some of Port Moresby’s power demand.
“The purchase of this cargo does not reflect a change in our earlier projection of eight weeks for return to production.
“The two LNG trains at the PNG LNG plant near Port Moresby were safely shut down following the shutdown of the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant and Hides well pads in Hela.
“We have brought forward scheduled maintenance activity at the LNG plant and have redeployed some maintenance and support staff from the Hides gas conditioning plant to assist.”
Preliminary assessments by ExxonMobil PNG Limited on the damage to PNG LNG facilities caused by the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in the Highlands on Feb 26 indicate that it may take about eight weeks to repair and restore production.
In an earlier statement, ExxonMobil PNG managing director Andrew Barry said the company withstood the earthquake extremely well because of the world-class design and construction of the facilities and the quick response by its staff.