Keller Group plc (“the Group”), the international ground engineering specialist, announces that its Australian business has secured a key contract with Bechtel Australia Pty Ltd worth in excess of A$180m (£120m). The contract is for the piling installation for the Chevron-operated A$29bn (£19bn) Wheatstone LNG Plant located at Onslow, Western Australia.
Work will be undertaken by the collective resources of Keller Australia Group companies led by Frankipile. Included in the scope of work is the procurement, installation and testing of approximately 20,000 piles for the onshore main plant facilities.
Keller Australia is committed to utilising its Australian-based plant and management with any additional labour requirements sourced locally, in accordance with the project specific training plan.
The Wheatstone project involves the construction of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) trains and domestic gas plant 12 kilometres west of the coastal town of Onslow. Gas will be transported via a pipeline from an offshore processing platform 225 kilometres off the coast to the onshore facilities. First LNG shipments are planned for 2016.
Preparatory work on this contract will begin immediately and is expected to be completed in 2014.
Justin Atkinson, Keller Chief Executive, commented:
“Australia is one of our key growth markets and will continue to offer excellent opportunities for Keller as major resource-related projects, such as this, come to the market.
“Our Australian companies have a strong track record of successful collaboration on large and complex contracts and we are confident that this project will continue this track record. After our initial preparatory works, full production will begin in late 2012, running through to mid-2014.”
Notes to Editors:
Keller is the world’s largest independent ground engineering specialist, providing technically advanced and cost-effective foundation solutions to the construction industry. With annual revenue of around £1.1bn, Keller has over 6,000 staff world-wide.
Keller is the market leader in the US and Australia; it has prime positions in most established European markets; and a strong profile in many developing markets.