Engineering and construction company Clough Curtain JV has struck a deal with Esso Highlands, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, for a liquid natural gas project (LNG) project in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Planning work will start immediately with work orders to be carried out by Clough as budget and scope are agreed.

The project is subject to a final investment decision, the company said.

The project includes the construction of roads, bridges, wharfs, camp areas and other critical infrastructure.

The joint venture proposes to build a liquefaction plant near Port Moresby, with gas sourced from various fields in the PNG Highlands.

The project is held by Esso Highlands (41.5%), Oil Search (34.0%), Santos (17.7%), Nippon Oil (5.4%), Minerals Resource Development (1.2%), and Eda Oil (0.2%).