據(jù)8月8日彭博社報道稱，液化天然氣日本公司（LNG Japan Corp.）同意了一項價值高達8.8億美元的交易，收購澳大利亞附近一個大型天然氣項目的股份，這是確保化石燃料供應(yīng)的新舉措，該國預(yù)計該燃料將在其能源結(jié)構(gòu)中發(fā)揮關(guān)鍵作用。

這家由住友商事株式會社（Sumitomo Corp.）和Sojitz Corp.共同擁有的合資企業(yè)將從伍德賽德能源集團（Woodside Energy Group）手中收購斯卡伯勒（Scarborough）10%的股份。這家總部位于珀斯的生產(chǎn)商周二表示，該公司還達成了一項協(xié)議，從2026年起，該項目每年供應(yīng)12批液化天然氣，約90萬噸。

斯卡伯勒將在海上開采天然氣，并在西澳大利亞Burrup半島的一個擴建工廠進行處理。預(yù)計該工廠每年將生產(chǎn)多達800萬噸液化天然氣，已成為反對開發(fā)新化石燃料項目的氣候活動家的攻擊目標(biāo)。

伍德賽德首席執(zhí)行官Meg O'Neill在一份聲明中表示，“日本液化天然氣公司的支持證明了斯卡伯勒項目的質(zhì)量，這也突顯了日本買家對新天然氣供應(yīng)的持續(xù)需求，以及天然氣在支持日本能源安全方面的作用” 。

日本是澳大利亞液化天然氣的最大買家，在去年的能源危機促使政府敦促企業(yè)鎖定供應(yīng)并投資項目后，日本一直在與主要船運公司達成新的協(xié)議。今年年初，日本和德國在七國集團峰會上呼吁支持對天然氣項目的新投資。

澳大利亞研究所智庫在6月份的一份報告中表示，斯卡伯勒的直接二氧化碳排放量估計約為每年440萬噸，如果將消費者燃燒天然氣或第三類排放計算在內(nèi)，這一數(shù)字將增至5600萬噸。

伍德賽德正在尋求減少其對斯卡伯勒項目的所有權(quán)，同時保留該開發(fā)項目的運營商地位。該公司周二在澳大利亞股市上漲0.6%，至去年11月以來的最高水平。O'Neill在5月份表示，該公司將對亞洲消費者的投資持開放態(tài)度。

根據(jù)伍德賽德的聲明，根據(jù)該協(xié)議，日本液化天然氣公司將支付5億美元的購買價格和其他金額，包括項目支出的報銷，預(yù)計總額將達到約8.8億美元。

另外，根據(jù)該協(xié)議，住友、Sojitz和伍德賽德將在氨、氫氣、碳捕獲和儲存以及碳管理技術(shù)等領(lǐng)域開展?jié)撛诤献鳌?/p>

王佳晶 譯自 彭博社

原文如下：

LNG Japan Agrees $880 Million Deal to Join Giant Gas Project

LNG Japan Corp. agreed a deal worth as much as $880 million for a stake in a giant natural gas project off Australia, a new step to secure supply of a fossil fuel the nation expects to retain a key role in its energy mix.

The joint venture, owned by Sumitomo Corp. and Sojitz Corp., will acquire a 10% interest in the Scarborough operation from Woodside Energy Group. It also struck a pact for the supply from the project of 12 cargoes — or about 900,000 tons — of liquefied natural gas a year for a decade from 2026, the Perth-based producer said Tuesday.

Scarborough, which will drill gas offshore and process it at an expanded plant on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia, is forecast to produce as much as 8 million tons of LNG a year and has become a lightning rod for climate activists opposed to the development of new fossil fuels projects.

“The support of LNG Japan is testament to the quality of the Scarborough project,” Woodside’s Chief Executive Officer Meg O’Neill said in a statement. “It also underscores the ongoing demand from Japanese buyers for new supplies of gas and the role of gas in supporting Japan’s energy security.”

Japan, the largest buyer of Australian LNG, has been striking new pacts with major shippers after last year’s energy crisis prompted the government to press companies to lock in supply and invest in projects. Japan and Germany used a Group of Seven summit earlier this year to call for support for new investment in gas projects.

Scarborough’s direct carbon dioxide emissions are estimated to be about 4.4 million tons a year, and that figure swells to 56 million tons if the burning of the gas by consumers, or scope 3 emissions, are included, the Australia Institute think tank said in a June report.

Woodside is seeking to reduce its ownership of the Scarborough project, while remaining the development’s operator. The producer, which rose 0.6% in Australia trading Tuesday to the highest since November, would be open to investment from Asian consumers, O’Neill said in May. 

Under the deal, LNG Japan will pay a $500 million purchase price and other amounts including reimbursements for project spending that are expected to bring the total to about $880 million, according to Woodside’s statement.

Separately, Sumitomo, Sojitz and Woodside will work on potential collaborations in areas that could include ammonia, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and carbon management technology under the deal.