INPEX on Tuesday received a directive from the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), Australian marine regulator, claiming deficiencies in mercury handling at the 9.30 mil mt/year Ichthys project. However, a spokesperson at INPEX explained that operations, including LNG production and exports, would not be halted. Some market sources had expected the Ichthys project to be forced to halt operations temporarily for investigation following the directive. Despite that, INPEX denied that the directive would affect supplying for LNG and other energy products. Meanwhile, it stated that it would proceed with addressing the issues pointed out by NOPSEMA and strengthen its mercury management system.