The transfer of operational control of Train 1 marks the start of commercial operations at the project, following first production of LNG from Train 1 in December 2014, with 16 cargoes shipped to date.
Train 2 of the project is currently under construction, and is expected to start operations in the third quarter of the 2015 calendar year.
Additionally, the sale of the QCLNG gas pipeline has been approved by Train 1 equity partner, the China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC).
As a result, the preconditions for sale of the pipeline to APA Group, expected to be completed in the second quarter of the 2015, have been satisfied in full.
“We are pleased to be taking operational control of QCLNG following its successful start-up and commissioning over the past six months,”? BG Group Chief Executive Helge Lund said.
“I would like to thank our partners Bechtel for building this world-first facility and helping to establish the LNG industry on the east coast of Australia.
“The transfer of operational control, and CNOOC’s approval, have also progressed our pipeline disposal, which we expect to complete in the coming weeks.”?
The partners in Train 1 are BG Group (50 per cent) and China Natural Offshore Oil Corporation (50 per cent).
BG Group holds a 93.75 per cent stake across the two-train development with Japan’s Tokyo Gas holding a 2.5 per cent interest in the second train.
At plateau production, expected during 2016, QCLNG will have an output of around 8 MMt/a of LNG.