Despite the downturn APLNG delivers record payment

Origin has earned a record $1.275 billion from its stake in the APLNG project in Queensland.

Jul 31, 2020, updated May 22, 2025
APLNG has delivered a record dividend to Origin. (Photo: Robert Garvey, www.garvey.com.au)
APLNG has delivered a record dividend to Origin. (Photo: Robert Garvey, www.garvey.com.au)

The result was at the top of its forecast range, but also follows a decision by the company to write down its stake in the project by up to $770 million and slash expenditure in its coal seam gas production by $400 million.

Origin has a 37.5 per cent stake in APLNG which has been hit by an industry-wide downturn in demand.

But the company had record production for the 2020 year and recorded its 500th cargo from Curtis Island, near Gladstone.

Full-year revenue was down 5 per cent because of a slump in domestic prices.

RBC Capital Markets said Origin’s June quarter revenue of $610m was down 3 per cent quarter-on-quarter due to fewer scheduled cargoes and lower spot LNG volumes.

ā€œIts domestic revenue of $94 million was up 14 per cent with more gas directed to short term domestic sales, in light of weak LNG spot market conditions,ā€ RBC said.

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ā€œOverall, this result highlights our view … that APLNG has delivered strong operational performance, lowered costs and realised relatively high LNG prices.ā€

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Origin chief executive Frank Calabria said the record dividend from APLNG demonstrated it was a world-class asset.

ā€œIn retail, we were able to pass lower wholesale costs onto our customers, which contributed to lower prices for most customers in Queensland, South Australia, NSW and the ACT,ā€ he said.

ā€œThe pandemic has impacted natural gas and electricity demand and some residential and small to medium enterprise customers are facing financial difficulties.

ā€œOur focus has been on supporting customers and we have extended our commitment not to disconnect those in financial distress and to waive late payment fees until October 31.ā€

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