With multi-million dollar liquefied natural gas projects underway, Australia will need over 50,000 workers by 2013. However, finding those workers might prove itself to be a tough task, warns the Deutsche Bank.
According to John Hirjee, an analyst for the Deutsche Bank in Melbourne, the seven LNG projects that are planned for the country are about to face two major challenges: “...the ability to source enough labour to actually construct the projects. Secondly, the ability to source enough quality labour to construct projects on time and on budget”.
The report also states that companies are planning to have LNG processing units built in lower-cost Asian countries and reassembled in Australia, in a move to reduce expenses.
Hirjee also mentioned that Gorgon LNG project, led by Chevron, and the company’s proposed Wheatstone project will eventually become “significant labour competitors” for Woodside Petroleum Ltd and that the company is expecting to expand its $13 billion Pluto project in Western Australia.