Wheatstone, located 12km west of Onslow, is one of Australia’s largest resources projects, consisting of two LNG trains with a combined capacity of 8.9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), as well as a 200 terajoule per day domestic gas plant.
LNG Train 1 has now started up, with LNG Train 2 construction progressing well and on track to start-up 6 to 8 months after LNG Train 1.
CME Chief Executive Officer Reg Howard Smith said Wheatstone was making a significant economic contribution to the long-term future of Western Australia through job creation, government revenue and procurement of local goods and services.
“More than $20 billion has been spent on local goods and services through 300 contracts with Australian companies since 2009,” Mr Howard-Smith said.
“In turn, this has created direct employment for more than 7,000 workers. During the life of the Wheatstone Project, more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created in Australia, which amounts to around 1000 jobs per year.
“From a local Pilbara perspective, more than $250 million has been committed to social and critical infrastructure projects in Onslow, which include upgrading community facilities, education and health services, roads, and power and water infrastructure.
“Since construction began in late 2011, Chevron has spent more than $455 million with more than 90 Onslow businesses and organisations for site construction contracts and town based services such as transport, catering, venue hire and general supplies.
“The resources industry makes a significant contribution to the long-term security of the Australian economy and I congratulate Chevron for reaching this significant milestone, which will continue to benefit the Western Australia community for many years to come.”
According to third party independent analysis, the Wheatstone project will add more than $180 billion to Australia’s GDP, almost $6 billion per year from 2009 to 2040 forecasts; and boost state and federal government revenues by almost $50 billion, around $1.5 billion per year.
