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Update: Workers, Inpex Reach Agreement as Loading Resumes at Ichthys LNG Facility

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(Updates to add Inpex statement in paragraphs 2 & 3)

Japanese energy company Inpex on Wednesday reached an agreement with striking workers at its 9.3 million metric-ton-a-year Ichthys liquefied natural gas export facility in Darwin, northern Australia.

"Protected industrial action has ceased at the Ichthys LNG facilities and we are pleased to confirm cargo loading has recommenced," Inpex senior vice president corporate, Bill Townsend said in an emailed statement to.

An in-principle agreement has been reached between the parties, the statement added.

A statement shared by a representative for Offshore Alliance confirmed the agreement.

"Following months of negotiations and the prospect of further protected industrial action, Offshore Alliance members have won an agreement that delivers significant gains in job security, pay, career progression, workplace rights and working arrangements."

Key terms of the agreement include a provision to prevent permanent jobs from being outsourced to lower-cost labor hire contractors, industry-standard pay and allowances and a competency-based career progression framework.

There are also stronger employee representation rights, and an improvement in roster flexibility and over-cycle arrangements for offshore workers, the statement added.

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.

The union had called for a protected industrial action from June 11-23 at the Ichthys facility after initiating a limited strike earlier in the month.

On Sunday, the Fair Work Commission, an Australian labor tribunal, rejected an application by Inpex to halt a strike by 400 oil and gas workers at the Ichthys LNG project.

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