ACT

The Australian Gas Technology Conference & Exhibition(AGT) has joined forces with leading oil and gas employers, training bodies and universities to address the shortfall of 36,000 workers required to construct and operate the planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Australia.

Western Australia’s only gas technology event will play host to tertiary and TAFE students and mature age workers from 25-27 July in an effort to encourage the next generation of workers to pursue a career in the gas industry.

In contrast to the oil and gas sector, the mining sector in Australia is showing conflicting signs.

With at least ten major LNG/CSG projects now under construction in Australia and generating significant job numbers, mining shows a slightly different picture.

Operators: The Project is a 50-50 joint venture between BHP Billiton and Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd, managed by BMA.

Location:    Bowen Basin, 16km south of Moranbah and 160km south west of Mackay

Cost: $4.2b

Timeframe:      First production expected in 2014

Employment:  2,200 construction and 500 operational jobs

Operators:  Rio Tinto

Cost:   $15+bn

Location:  Pilbara

Timeframe:  2012 - 2017

Employment:  Requires over 6,000 employees in the next 5 years

Owners: Hancock Prospecting (70%), POSCO (12.5%, Marubeni Corporation (12.5%), STX Corporation (2.5%), China Steel Corporation (2.5%)

Location: Chichester Ranges

Timeframe: Construction from late 2013-2015, with expected first ore on ship planned for September 2015

Cost: Reported to be approx. $10 billion

Operators: CiticPacific Mining

Location:  85kms south of Karratha

Timeframe:     First production expected in 2013 with a 25 year mine life

Cost:    US$30b

Employment:   More than 4,000 construction jobs and 600 operational jobs.  Constructionis complete but operational recruitment continues.

Operators: Southern Seawater Alliance (SSWA)

Location:  Binningup, south of Perth

Timeframe:   18 month construction, expected to be commissioned by 2014

Cost:    $955m

Employment:  600 jobs during construction, local workforce only (no camp facilities)