The Inpex Corp. gas exploration company is at the center of a dispute with Aboriginal Australians who say it is conducting a drilling program on their traditional land.
Tokyo-based Inpex has been investigating lucrative gas deposits off the coast of northwestern Australia's Kimberly region and recently installed a floating rig at the uninhabited Maret Islands for geotechnical testing.
The company has applied to the West Australian government for permission to build a $10 billion onshore processing plant in the Maret Islands to produce liquefied natural gas, with liquefied petroleum gas and condensate byproducts, for export to Japan and other markets.
However, Inpex's plans have been met with outrage from local Aboriginals who are calling for the company to stop drilling on their traditional land.