Fourth Phase of Development

In 2000 the North West Shelf Venture participants signed the first of a series of Letters of Intent with existing and some new Japanese customers that allowed for the fourth phase of expansion of the North West Shelf Venture's LNG facilities to begin.

The fourth major phase of development began in early 2001 with the construction of a fourth LNG train with an annual capacity of 4.4 million tonnes and a second trunkline to shore. Train 4 achieved first production in 2004, increasing the North West Shelf Venture’s total annual LNG production capacity to 11.9 million tonnes.

In April 2003 the North West Shelf Venture signed a new seven year contract with Korean utility Kogas, and in March 2004 the North West Shelf Venture’s ninth LNG carrier, the Northwest Swan, became part of its shipping fleet.