Labor Unrest Threatens to Roil Australian LNG Export Projects

Australia’s liquefied natural gas sector is facing the prospect of industrial action at major export operations, adding another supply risk for Asian buyers already scrambling for cargoes after disruptions in the Middle East.

A dispute over wages and conditions involving maintenance contractor UGL Ltd. is set to trigger action from Wednesday at Woodside Energy Group Ltd.’s Karratha Gas Plant and Pluto facilities, the Offshore Alliance union said in a Facebook post. Separately, workers at Inpex Corp.’s Ichthys project are set to strike unless a final Fair Work Commission-facilitated bargaining meeting scheduled for Friday results in an agreement.