Japanese operator Inpex has whetted the appetites of smaller Southeast Asian fabricators with an opportunity to build a compression module for the Ichthys liquefied natural gas project in Australia.

Sources said Inpex is checking on the availability and capability of fabricators through an expression of interest to build a 4000-tonne compression module.

It is understood that constructors in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are examining and potentially responding to the opportunity.