Japanese steelmaker Sumitomo Metal Industries has announced that it plans to start production of 138,200 mt of high strength large diameter welded (UOE) line pipes with an outside diameter of 42" (1,067 mm) to be supplied to the Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Australia.
For this project, approximately 889 km of offshore pipeline will be installed to transport natural gas from the offshore gas field to the onshore LNG plant in Darwin, Northern Territory. Sumitomo Metals will supply 20 percent of 180 km of line pipe.
Sumitomo also stated that approximately 70 percent of LNG from the Ichthys project will be supplied to Japan through long-term agreements with Japanese gas and power companies, enabling Japan to secure a stable energy source.