Global conglomerate GE has signalled an innovative pathway for training and industry development in Western Australia with the opening of a $100 million complex at Jandakot.
GE has traditionally been a major supplier to the oil and gas industry but until recent years has treated WA as simply a sales region.
The growth in the state’s oil and gas sector, particularly the investment in massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects such as Pluto, Gorgon and Wheatstone, has prompted GE to establish its first in-country support and maintenance centre.
It has also partnered with petroleum producers and local education providers to establish a training centre at Jandakot.
GE said the maintenance and training centre was the largest of its kind in Australia and had grown from $80 million to $100 million in response to demand from the industry.
Stage one of the expansive workshop is designed to service drilling and sub-sea equipment. The second stage, to open next year, will service gas turbine equipment.
The training centre, with capacity for up to 350 people is also due to open early next year. The company said it expected to deliver 4,000 training days in 2012.
GE’s regional director oil and gas, Mike Hosford, said the business had grown from about 10 people five years ago to 400 people nationally.
He envisaged the Jandakot ‘campus’ could have 600 to 700 people working there in training and servicing roles in a few years.
To support the $10 million training centre, GE has partnered with petroleum producers Chevron, Woodside and ConocoPhillips, along with education services company Navitas, industry skills council Manufacturing Skills Australia, Challenger Institute of Technology’s Australian Centre for Energy and Process Training (ACEPT) and registered training provider Apprenticeships Australia.
The federal government has backed this GE-led training initiative with $2.6 million in funding.
Speaking at the opening this week, Chevron Australia general manager Greater Gorgon Area Colin Beckett said it was important for local industry to focus on long-term opportunities arising from LNG developments.
“People need to think beyond, how much money can I make during the construction phase of these projects, and ask how can I position myself as a service provider for the next 50 years,” Mr Beckett said.
“We need others to follow your lead to create opportunities for themselves.”
Chevron said it planned to train hundreds of its Perth engineering and technical staff at the GE facility.
The company has so far invested $12 million on recruiting and training 40 apprentices and trainees in preparation for when the Gorgon LNG and domestic gas plants become operational.
It also employs 120 university graduates across a variety of oil and gas-related fields.
Shell Development Australia vice president Prelude Bruce Steenson also praised the GE initiative, saying LNG projects needed highly skilled operators.
Shell has previously announced partnerships with Challenger Institute and Curtin University to train operators for its Prelude floating LNG development.
While the GE facility initially will focus on the oil and gas sector, it will also be able to service the energy, mining, health-care, transportation and water industries.
Within the oil and gas sector, Mr Hosford said the two major growth areas had been project management, linking GE customers to the company’s international manufacturing facilities, and its role as a services organisation.
