The voice of the Australian oil and gas industry has told the Western Australian Government’s Skills Summit that the oil and gas industry is committed to creating local jobs and training opportunities but fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workers will still be required for some specialised skillsets.
APPEA Western Australian Director Claire Wilkinson said the industry has worked collaboratively with Government, through the LNG Jobs Taskforce, to identify training needs and standardise skills training across the industry.
“Our industry is investing in local training, supporting local jobs and working with the Government to ensure we have the skills to keep the lights on and our mines running,” Ms Wilkinson said.
“When COVID-19 hit, APPEA member companies responded by prioritising local workers and moving interstate workers to Western Australia wherever possible through incentives and relocation packages.
“But despite these efforts in both training local workers and relocating interstate workers to Western Australia, the industry will continue to require specialised skillsets from interstate to maintain the sustainability and safety of our WA operations.
“The oil and gas industry supplies the energy used by WA’s booming mining sector, bringing more jobs and revenue to the state.
“It’s critical that travel and quarantine requirements balance the health and wellbeing of Western Australians while delivering the skills needed for essential industries to continue operating,” she said.
“APPEA looks forward to continuing our work with Government to address these skills challenges and provide the reliable energy, local jobs and regional investment needed to drive Western Australia’s economy.”
Action on emissions
APPEA said it had made submission to the Department of Industry’s draft carbon capture and storage (CCS) method for the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) highlighting how CCS has the potential to deliver step-change emissions reductions.
APPEA Chief Executive Andrew McConville said the development of a method for CCS under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) was an important way to not only reduce emissions but create thousands of jobs.
“This is a chance Australia shouldn’t miss. CCS can help Australia to not only meet, but beat our emissions reduction targets,” Mr McConville said.
“With scale and experience, the cost of CCS will decrease, creating the potential to deliver competitive, large-scale abatement for existing industries and new industries such as hydrogen and ammonia.
“The world is noticing the opportunity for CCS with 19 projects now operational (10 from oil and gas), including Chevron-operated Gorgon CO2 Injection Project, which is the largest dedicated CCS project in the world, another four under construction and at least 30 more projects coming on-line in the years ahead.
“Those in operation and construction have the capacity to capture and permanently store around 40 million tonnes of CO2 every year.
“Australia has a natural competitive advantage to implement CCS with known high quality, stable geological storage basins, existing infrastructure, world-class technical expertise and regulatory regimes (environment protection, carbon accounting and reporting, financial services).
“Australia needs low-cost carbon abatement to maintain its position as a leading energy exporter and ensure international competitiveness in a cleaner energy future.”
Mr McConville said CCS is a safe and permanent solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“A CCS method under the Emissions Reduction Fund will encourage more projects, create new jobs and support Australian industries, particularly in regional areas,” he said.
“The International Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change both support CCS as essential to achieve the world’s climate change goals.
“Just as LNG exports are playing an important role in reducing global emissions, CCS in Australia can play an important role in securing the future of Australia’s oil and gas industry in a cleaner energy future.
“Australia’s LNG export success means the Australian upstream oil and gas industry has the technology, expertise, commercial and trade relationships to make, in particular, hydrogen exports a reality.”
