The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has welcomed the potential of the $60 billion offshore decommissioning industry announced by Federal Minister for Resources Madeleine King.
The MUA has long advocated for climate change action that safeguards skilled, fulfilling, and long-term blue-collar jobs. The responsible and comprehensive decommissioning and removal of disused oil and gas infrastructure, mainly offshore, where it poses a substantial risk to the environment if ignored, is a critical component of the transition to large-scale wind and solar projects.
According to the union, the Australian Government‘s release of an Issues Paper and the start of consultation for a Decommissioning Roadmap are not only essential steps towards these critical climate and environmental goals, but they are also a boon for maritime workers, who can now look forward to long-term and rewarding jobs dismantling and removing these massive installations as they come offline over the next few decades.
“Maritime workers, alongside construction and electrical trades workers, built the offshore oil and gas industry with their hard work and skill honed over generations. Now we have the opportunity to work towards clean climate energy infrastructure as these installations reach their end of life and need to be removed and recycled,” MUA Assistant National Secretary Adrian Evans said.
The union noted that the proposed employment will provide well-paid, highly skilled jobs, thereby sustaining local economies and communities while transitioning the offshore workforce in Australia as it reduces its reliance on hydrocarbons.
The MUA, a union advocating for offshore maritime work, has been engaged by the Federal Government to secure its future and protect coastal environments. The union has campaigned for legislative and regulatory reform, ensuring the industry pays all costs associated with decommissioning offshore oil and gas infrastructure, which the MUA claimed was previously allowed to rot by resources companies and the previous Federal Government.
“Establishing a decommissioning industry in Australia will provide immense economic opportunities and create well-paid jobs in regional communities. We want to build an industry to service not just ageing offshore oil and gas assets in Australia, but also meet future demand for sustainably decommissioning offshore windfarms at the end of their productive life,” Minister King said.
According to the Government, the new decommissioning industry could be worth up to $60 billion over the next 30 to 50 years.
“We can now look forward to the jobs that will flow from this commitment to establishing shared infrastructure such as membrane protected yards, securing the vessels required to undertake the work, and the effective monitoring of abandoned fields. We are also well positioned to contribute to the ‘Roadmap’s’ standards of training and qualifications which will ensure delivery of the highest worker safety, as well as the long term skills development and employment opportunities for our members on offer as we transition to clean energy infrastructure around our coast,” Evans added.
