Woodside Prepares to Restart Pluto LNG Facility

Woodside Energy announced on Wednesday that it has begun preparations to safely restart its Pluto LNG facility following a temporary shutdown earlier in the week. The facility, located on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia, was shut down on Monday due to a fault in its control system. In a statement, Woodside confirmed that efforts to resume operations began on Tuesday, though the company has not provided specific details or a timeline for the restart. Despite the disruption at the Pluto LNG plant, the Karratha Gas Plant, which supplies gas to the facility via a pipeline, remains fully operational. A company spokesperson emphasized that the gas plant continues to function normally, ensuring stability in the region’s broader gas supply chain, according the several media reports.

The Pluto LNG facility is a critical component of Woodside’s portfolio and Australia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity. With a production capacity of 4.9 million metric tons per year, the facility processes natural gas sourced from the offshore Pluto and Xena gas fields. The plant currently operates a single LNG train for this purpose. However, Woodside is in the process of constructing a second LNG train at the site to support future growth. This expansion will enable the facility to process additional gas from the Scarborough gas project, one of Woodside's major developments. The second train represents a significant investment in bolstering the facility’s output and meeting rising global demand for LNG.

The temporary shutdown is a reminder of the challenges inherent in operating complex energy infrastructure. Woodside’s swift action to address the control system fault highlights its commitment to maintaining the safety, reliability, and efficiency of its operations. By initiating preparations to restart the facility within a day of the fault, the company has demonstrated a proactive approach to minimizing downtime and ensuring continuity. The ongoing functionality of the Karratha Gas Plant is particularly important in this context, as it helps mitigate the impact of the Pluto LNG facility’s temporary halt on the regional gas supply.

Looking ahead, the addition of the second train at the Pluto LNG facility signals Woodside’s strategic focus on expanding its LNG capabilities to secure its position as a leading global energy producer. This development is closely aligned with its plans to process gas from the Scarborough gas field, which is expected to significantly enhance the company’s production capacity and meet growing international demand. While the current disruption poses a short-term challenge, the facility’s ongoing expansion underscores Woodside’s long-term commitment to supporting Australia’s role as a key player in the global LNG market.