Australia exports record LNG in 2021: EnergyQuest

Australian LNG exports reached a record 80.9mn metric tons in 2021, up 3.7% year/year, energy consultant EnergyQuest said on January 4. The exports were also higher than the 77.6mn mt in 2019, before the pandemic.

EnergyQuest estimates that total 2021 LNG export revenue reached A$48bn ($34.6bn), up 25% yr/yr. The massive increase in export revenue takes Australia back to the record level achieved in 2019 prior to the pandemic, it said.

Most Australian LNG projects produced more in 2021 than in 2020. Shell-operated Prelude floating LNG project restarted regular production from early on the year and produced 2.2mn mt. However, it was shut down by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority in late November due to safety concerns.

The only LNG projects with lower production in 2021 than 2020 were the Woodside-operated North West Shelf and the Inpex operated Ichthys project, EnergyQuest said.