Santos, the leading proponent, said that the development approval will trigger major works for upstream field development, pipeline construction and the assembly of the plant at Gladstone.
“GLNG will create 5,000 jobs in construction, in addition to 1,000 permanent jobs in production; it is expected that 1,500 jobs will be created in the first half of 2011,” Santos said.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said that the GLNG Project would cement Queensland’s role as a significant producer of LNG, and provide a boost to a state economy recovering from the devastating impact of recent flooding.
The GLNG joint venture comprises Santos with a 30 per cent interest, PETRONAS with a 27.5 per cent interest, Total with a 27.5 per cent interest and KOGAS with a 15 per cent interest.
The project will see coal seam gas from the Bowen and Surat Basins transported to the two-train LNG plant on Curtis Island via a 420 km transmission pipeline.
First LNG exports are expected in 2015, and binding sales agreements have already been signed with PETRONAS and KOGAS for 7 MMt/a in aggregate.
Key engineering, procurement and construction contracts for the project include Fluor for upstream surface facilities, Saipem for the gas transmission pipeline and Bechtel for the LNG plant.