Australia: QGC Work Force Hits 11,600

More than 11,600 people are working with QGC and its major contractors, with more than 15 people hired every day during the past six months.

In the natural gas company’s latest six-monthly report to Queensland’s Coordinator-General on Australian industry participation, QGC said investment in construction, exploration and operations since January 2010 had passed A$14.9 billion.

This included spending by both QGC and the world-first Queensland Curtis LNG Project.

QGC said about A$12 billion – or 80% of the total A$14.9 billion – had been invested with Australian firms since 1 January 2010.

Queensland firms had received 64.5%, or A$9.6 billion, of the total.

The report covers 1 October 2012 to 31 March 2013.

QGC Managing Director Derek Fisher said more than 115,300 Australian businesses had registered their interest in doing business with QGC since 2010.

“QGC will be operating in Queensland for decades to come and our QCLNG Project is delivering economic and social benefits from the Surat Basin to Gladstone and across Queensland,” Mr Fisher said.

“In the six months to the end of March, QGC and our contractors hired more than 2800 people – or 15 people a day.

“A snapshot of current contracts shows we are investing nearly A$1 billion in Gladstone and about A$684 million in the Western Downs region.”

Mr Fisher said 249 indigenous people were working with QGC and its major contractors. The number of training courses for staff and contractors had increased to 22,994 from 13,900 in the previous reporting period.

“Training people to work safely and efficiently is a priority as we ramp up construction ready for first LNG in 2014,” he said.

“Work to prepare our teams who will operate QCLNG is already underway.”

The report showed 342 apprentices, graduates, cadets and trainees were working with QGC and its major contractors and that QGC had invested a total of A$212 million in research and development.

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LNG World News Staff, May 24, 2013