Australian gas project’s LNG comes to Japan as JERA brings in first cargo

June 12, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Japan’s power generation major JERA has taken delivery of its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from a giant gas project off the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory.

LNG carrier Sohshu Maru at JERA's Futtsu LNG terminal; Source: JERA — LNG carrier Sohshu Maru at JERA’s Futtsu LNG terminal; Source: JERA

JERA has confirmed the arrival of its first LNG cargo at the Futtsu LNG terminal in Japan from the Barossa gas project in Australia, marking the start of LNG deliveries from the project to the company in support of the Asian country’s stable supply.

After the Santos-operated Barossa came online in late 2025, gas produced from the offshore gas field is processed at the Darwin LNG plant and shipped globally. The project’s annual LNG production capacity is approximately 3.4 million tonnes.

JERA, participating through its Australian subsidiary, will offtake approximately 425,000 tonnes of LNG per year in line with its equity share. The firm received its first cargo via the LNG carrier Sohshu Maru at its Futtsu LNG terminal on June 12th.

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Irtiza Sayyed, Chief Operating Officer of JERA’s LCF Business, commented: “Participation in the Barossa Gas Project allows us to meet Japan’s energy security needs from a strategically important region, and contribute to broader energy stability across the Asia-Pacific region.

“Securing stable and competitive LNG supply for Japan, in a highly volatile market, remains JERA’s utmost priority. A diversified global LNG supply allows us to decrease the impact of supply shocks.”

The company claims that Australian LNG continues to be an important component of its increasingly diversified global procurement portfolio, with the Barossa project being one of its biggest investments in Australia, in addition to Wheatstone LNG and the Scarborough project, which is expected to start production later this year.

The Japanese player highlighted: “JERA will continue to build resilience across its strong and diversified LNG portfolio, by balancing supply from the Asia‑Pacific region, the Middle East, the United States, and other sources.

“It would also leverage integrated value‑chain capabilities spanning the company’s upstream developments to procurement, transportation, and power generation.”

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