PNG LNG Projects spends K4.3 billion

By MALUM NALU
The PNG LNG Project has to date spent more than K4.3 billion (US$2.1 billion) in PNG to date, according its quarterly environmental and social report released this week, The National reports.
The report said that to date, more than K880 million (US$424 million) had been spent with landowner companies (Lancos) for all project-related activities.
“This quarter, K195 million (US$94 million) was spent with Lancos, representing an increase of 30% from the previous quarter,” the report said.

Welded pipe ready for commencement of lowering along the onshore pipeline route.-Picture courtesy of ESSO HIGHLANDS
“The total in-country project-related spend to date is now over 4.3 billion Kina (almost US$2.1 billion).
“In its two and half years of operation, the Enterprise Centre has supported more than 1,300 local businesses with training and business development programmes.”
The report said the project’s construction was progressing well and in line with the schedule.
“Numerous milestones were achieved during this quarter including: reached 50% of the Komo airfield’s bulk earthworks; completion and delivery of the second drilling rig; completion of the second of four horizontal directional drilling operations; finalisation of the offshore pipeline detailed design; and a record 453 truckloads of equipment moved from Lae to Hides in one month,” it said.
“During this quarter, the upstream infrastructure contractor, who achieved over 10 million work hours lost time incident free, was recognised by the project for excellence in worker involvement in safety, effective subcontractor management and collaboration and teamwork.
“In addition, the Esso Highlands Ltd ground transport workers achieved an outstanding safety record of over 7.5 million km driven by a fleet of more than 125 passenger vehicles with no lost time Incidents
“The project has reached a major workforce development milestone with more than one million hours of training now provided to the project’s workforce, including over 164,000 training hours this quarter alone.
“This quarter, pre-construction surveys were completed for supporting infrastructure for the onshore pipeline.
“The surveys covered areas such as valve stations, drilling platforms and access roads.
“Pre-construction surveys assess areas of ecological interest, weeds and water quality at project worksites, while identifying potential archaeology and cultural heritage sites.
“The only pre-construction survey remaining is on the 24.8km Hides Spineline.”
The report said with construction activity at its peak this year, the project workforce stood at more than 16,200 people.
“The total number of PNG citizens trained to date for both construction and production roles across all project sites reached more than 8, 500,” it said.

Highlights included:

• In January, the first intake of operations and maintenance trainees from the Production Operations Training Centre in Port Moresby left for Nova Scotia, Canada to undergo one-year of advanced skills training.

• At the Juni Construction Training Facility, the first intake of trainees graduated in March with an Australian Quality Training Framework standard Certificate II in General Construction and Civil Construction. Meanwhile, the second intake of 20 trainees commenced their training program in January.

• Jason Maisasa from the PNG Institute of Medical Research (IMR) was selected to undertake the Biomedical Equipment Repair Training program in Dallas, Texas, through MediSend International.