TOKYO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Japan's biggest oil and gas explorer Inpex Corp 1605.T said on Thursday its Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Australia is running at around 80% of full capacity, with 24 cargos being shipped in April-June despite a 15-20-day maintenance in May.
The company expects Ichthys to ship about 7-8 cargoes a month this year and the project is forecast to contribute 65 billion yen ($612 million) to its group profit for the 9-month earnings this year through Dec. 31, against its earlier prediction of 60 billion yen, Inpex's Senior Managing Executive Officer Masahiro Murayama told an earnings news conference.
($1 = 106.1400 yen)