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Offshore Alliance Claims Inpex Used Unqualified Staff at Australia LNG Plant, Warns of Escalating Action

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Workers' union Offshore Alliance on Monday accused Japanese energy company Inpex of using unqualified personnel during periods of protected industrial action at its 9.3 million metric-ton-a-year Ichthys liquefied natural gas export plant in Darwin, northern Australia.

In a Facebook post, the union claimed that the health and safety of its members was being put at risk by the company's gross negligence and that it had lodged a formal complaint with the Australian regulator, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, which is now looking into the allegations.

In a post on Sunday, Offshore Alliance said that Inpex left Saturday's talks, facilitated by the Fair Work Commission, without reaching an agreement on roster and employment matters, minimum staffing levels, and other key worker demands.

With no further talks scheduled, the union warned that it plans to intensify its protected industrial action plans on June 11.

Offshore Alliance members, union workers, initiated a limited "industrial action" on Tuesday across all facilities of Inpex's Ichthys LNG plant.

"The strike action includes union members downing tools between 6 am and 8 am and 6 pm and 8 pm, and bans on overcycle, working past 6 am on [demobilization] day, and swapping between day shift and night shift without at least 4 weeks' notice from management," according to a statement from the union's representative on Tuesday.

According to an S&P Platts report, the action is expected to continue until June 10.

The worker's body has also provided Inpex notice of another industrial action from June 11 to June 23, according to last week's statement.

According to its website, Offshore Alliance is a partnership between the Australian Workers' Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, and covers workers in the offshore oil and gas industry.

A strike at the facility, which accounts for about 2% of global LNG output, could reportedly have had severe consequences for the market amid the supply disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing Middle East crisis.

has reached out to Inpex and NOPSEMA for comments.

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