Construction has begun on Woodside Energy and Bechtel’s Pluto Train 2 Project, a key milestone supporting jobs and economic growth in Western Australia (WA).
WA Deputy Premier Roger Cook MLA officially launched the project’s construction at a ceremony held in Karratha.
Pluto Train 2 will be the second liquified natural gas (LNG) train at Woodside Energy’s existing Pluto LNG onshore facility and will process gas from the Scarborough development. According to Woodside and Bechtel, the project will have an LNG capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum. An additional domestic gas infrastructure with a total of 225 Terajoules per day will be installed to continue to support Australia’s domestic market, the companies added.
In a joint statement by Woodside Energy and Bechtel, the companies said the project would deliver significant economic benefits for Western Australia. As the operator of Pluto Tain 2 and Scarborough, Woodside Energy made commitments to the WA Government in its community development plans to support positive and sustainable community results in the Pilbara region.
Bechtel will carry out the engineering, procurement, and construction of Pluto Train 2.
Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neill said the start of construction on Pluto Train 2 was a key milestone towards the delivery of the Scarborough Project. She added the project would provide significant long-term economic growth and local employment opportunities for WA and supply domestic and export markets for decades to come.
“Many opportunities will be realised in WA, providing a boost to long-term investment in education and training, growing jobs and bringing work through the supply chain,” O’Neill stated.
She added that Scarborough gas processed through an expanded and efficient Pluto facility would support the decarbonisation goals of our customers in Asia.
Woodside Energy and Bechtel said the Pluto Train 2 Project will employ about 200 people in 2024, with a large contingent of employees expected to be drawn from within WA. Bechtel has already engaged several local and Indigenous businesses to support delivery, with more awards expected as the project progresses, the companies added.
According to Bechtel Energy President Paul Marsden, Bechtel was pleased to begin work on an important project for the Asia-Pacific region.
“We are proud to do our part to invest in local communities and improve the quality of life where we work by creating jobs and opportunities while also bringing greater energy security for the region,” he said.
Bechtel has started site preparations, including office, crib hut, and other facility installation, Initial earthworks and activities in the laydown and storage areas will commence before the end of 2022.
