UPDATE 1-Tokyo Gas aims for 1% stake in Gorgon LNG project

* Tokyo Gas aims to seal deal in 2nd half of 2009

* Aims to obtain stake from project operator Chevron (Adds details)

TOKYO, July 30 (Reuters) - Tokyo Gas Co (9531.T), Japan's biggest city gas supplier, said on Thursday it aimed to acquire 1 percent of Australia's Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project from U.S. oil major Chevron (CVX.N) in the second half of 2009.

Chevron holds a 50 percent stake and is the operator of the project, while Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) and Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) each hold 25 percent.

Chevron said in June it had secured customers in Japan and South Korea for about 70 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply from the multi-billion dollar project. [ID:nSP138043]

On Wednesday, the Western Australia environment ministry said the project needs to meet more stringent environmental conditions before it can obtain final approval from the government. [ID:nSYD505676]

The project was originally expected to cost A$11 billion ($8.99 billion), but the Western Australian state government has estimated the scaled-up project would cost A$50 billion. ($1=1.224 Australian Dollar) (Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori)