据普氏能源资讯新加坡消息，有消息人士透露，日本最大的液化石油气供应商Astomos能源公司预计将于本周末，在澳大利亚西北部Inpex公司运营的Ichthys项目上，用其租用的Grace River号VLGC（注：VLGC为超大型液化气体运输船，可运输LNG、LPG及液氮等)在本周末之前，装载首批液化石油气（LPG），并从澳大利亚西北部启程。

该消息人士表示，这批4.4万吨的货物由丙烷和丁烷均分，预计将运往日本。

他补充道，自1月1日起，这艘载重49996吨的Grace River船只就停泊在达尔文港附近，由于恶劣的天气和大雨，该船只已从原定计划中被推迟。

自2014年以来，在页岩气革命的推动下，美国大量石油流出，而日本Inpex运营的Ichthys LNG项目的第二批货物将增加亚洲的液化石油气供应。交易员表示，混合燃料中的丁烷将满足家庭、石化行业和MTBE对混合汽油的需求。

根据标普全球普氏计算，一旦该项目的液化石油气达到每年160万吨的最高产量，Inpex交易公司的Ichthys（包括小利益相关者）每年的提升量将超过100万吨。

该项目由日本Inpex牵头，运营并持有62.245%的股份，道达尔持有30%的股份，日本液化天然气客户东京燃气持有1.5575%的股份，大阪燃气持有1.2%的股份，关西电力持有1.2%的股份，杰拉持有0.735%的股份，东宝燃气持有0.42%的股份，台湾CPC持有2.625%的股份。

詹晓晶摘自普氏能源资讯

原文如下：

Astomos-chartered VLGC bound for Ichthys to load its 1st cargo by end-week for Japan: source

Japan's top LPG supplier Astomos Energy is expected to lift its first LPG cargo at the Inpex-operated Ichthys project off northwestern Australia by the end of this week aboard its time-chartered VLGC Grace River, a company source said Wednesday.

The 44,000 mt cargo, evenly split between propane and butane, is expected to be delivered to Japan, he said.

The 49,996-dwt Grace River has been near Darwin since January 1 and has been delayed from the original schedule by inclement weather and heavy rains, he added.

The delivery of the second cargo from Japan's Inpex-operated Ichthys LNG project would add to growing LPG supply in Asia following the large flows from the US since 2014, driven by the shale revolution, and traders said butane in the mix would cater to growing demand from households, the petrochemical sector and MTBE for gasoline blending.

Once the project touches peak output of 1.6 million mt/year of LPG, Inpex Trading's Ichthys lifting volumes -- including from minor stakeholders -- will be more than 1 million mt/year, according to S&P Global Platts calculations.

Total holds a 30% stake in the Ichthys project, which is led by Japan's upstream company Inpex, with a 62.245% operating stake. Japanese LNG customers Tokyo Gas owns 1.575%, Osaka Gas 1.2%, Kansai Electric Power 1.2%, Jera 0.735% and Toho Gas 0.42%; while Taiwan's state-run CPC holds a 2.625% interest.