Australian energy company Santos and partner PETRONAS today unveiled a $50 million plan to generate up to 100 new apprenticeships and trainee positions to help deliver their Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas project, GLNG®.
Rick Wilkinson, Santos Queensland and GLNG President, said the plan was the first stage of planned investment in jobs and training, providing positions in the Roma region in the State’s south west, and in Gladstone in Central Queensland.
The plan was announced by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh in Parliament today. The announcement coincides with the official opening of Santos’ new Queensland headquarters in Turbot Street, Brisbane, with facilities for more than 550 staff. It is also home to the new Australian headquarters for Malaysia’s PETRONAS, Santos’ partner in GLNG.
Mr Wilkinson said the training plan would be rolled out over the next five years, and include:
- $16 million for up to 100 new diesel mechanics, electricians and electrical instrument apprentices and traineeships in plant operations.
- $30 million investment in Queensland Secondary Schools for a potential new LNG curriculum as well as Traineeships; University Scholarships for both under-graduate and post-graduate scholars; and other training and development opportunities to develop Coal Seam Gas/LNG capabilities in Queensland.
- $4 million Indigenous training package to support a target of 300 indigenous GLNG jobs
“We estimate that to deliver a world first industry, close to 50 per cent of the operational workforce we employ will require re-skilling or up-skilling, including Traineeships, Certificates, Apprenticeships, work ready programs and other role based training and development,” Mr Wilkinson said.
“It’s an incredible story unfolding right here in Queensland – where so many people have the opportunity to gain trade, training and tertiary qualifications that could take them anywhere in the world as this new industry takes off.”
Mr Wilkinson said Santos was also exploring means by which to support apprenticeships and traineeships in other industries which would support the project, such as carpenters, builders and food services.
Up to 6,000 workers will be needed to deliver the GLNG project, including 1,000 permanent operational staff in regional Queensland, and a target of 300 indigenous employees.
“At peak, we expect to be paying direct and indirect wages and salary costs of $660 million a year.”
Santos is Australia’s largest onshore domestic gas producer, supplying approximately 20 percent of Eastern Australia’s gas.
“Santos is building on its 50 year commitment to the domestic gas market to now create a new export market for Queensland,” Mr Wilkinson said.
ABOUT SANTOS PLACE:
Santos Place is a showcase of the latest technology and sustainable design which is targeting a 6 Star Green Star rating. It features:
First class energy conservation through:
- A gas driven energy system to reduce carbon emissions by more than half:
A tri-generation system significantly reduces energy draw by using natural gas, and feeding 50 per cent of the output energy back into building hot water and cooling systems. The remaining output energy (about 40 per cent due to energy loss) is electricity which is fed back into the building. The emissions saving is the equivalent of taking 1500 cars off the roads in Queensland every year - A roof top rainwater harvesting system that uses six 20,000 litre tanks to store 120,000 litres of water for use as ‘grey’ water
- Striking Australian-made external sunshades which block out 25 per cent of direct sunlight
On Santos floors:
- more than 500 workstations and chairs which are 97 per cent recyclable
- timbers that are sourced from sustainable forests and used for interior veneer paneling (acoustics) and coffee tables
- 1269 plants, or about 3 plants per person, to consume Volatile Organic Compounds and return oxygen to the atmosphere
- One of the longest retro-fitted internal staircases in Queensland with 144 stairs between 8 Santos floors
Santos Place is located between Tank and Turbot Streets in the North Quarter precinct of the Brisbane CBD. It is currently home to 434 Santos employees.
