Australia: QGC Spend Nears AUD 8 Billion

QGC, a BG unit, said it has spent nearly A$8 billion since the start of 2010 developing its Queensland Curtis LNG Project and domestic gas business with about 74% of it spent in Australia and 59% in Queensland.

The figures are contained in QGC’s latest six-monthly report to the Queensland Coordinator-General on Australian industry participation.

The report covers from 1 October 2011 to 31 March 2012. At 31 March 2012, Queensland and Australian companies were engaged on contracts valued at A$6.1 billion for a wide range of good and services for QGC and the QCLNG Project.

QGC Managing Director Derek Fisher said about A$4.4 billion of this contracted work was being done by Queensland-owned and operated businesses.

“QGC is delivering significant benefits across the QCLNG Project area with more than A$1 billion worth of contracts awarded in the Gladstone region and nearly A$400 million in the Western Downs region between Toowoomba and Roma,” Mr Fisher said.

“Our total work force has now passed 7300, with 1594 staff and contractors working directly for QGC and 5719 people engaged by our major contractors.

“The work force includes 235 graduates, trainees and apprentices, more than double the number reported at 31 September 2011.

“We also have a strong commitment to local research and development with more than A$77 million invested to date and 65% of that in Queensland,” he said.

More than 47,000 registrations of interest have been received from Australian businesses seeking to supply to the QCLNG Project.

“This is an indication of the high level of interest in our project and QGC continues to engage the local business community to promote our local content commitment,” Mr Fisher said.

The QCLNG Project involves developing fields in the Surat Basin and transporting gas in a 540km underground pipeline network to Gladstone where it will be liquefied for export.

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LNG World News Staff, June 4, 2012