Overseeing one of the most important infrastructure developments in the state and country was the primary attraction of joining developer Oakajee Port and Rail, former Western Australian under treasurer John Langoulant said today.
Overseeing one of the most important infrastructure developments in the state and country was the primary attraction of joining developer Oakajee Port and Rail, former Western Australian under treasurer John Langoulant said today.
Currently the head of media tycoon Kerry Stokes' primary investment vehicle, Australian Capital Equity, Mr Langoulant will take on the chief executive's role at OPR from the end of next week.
OPR, which is jointly owned by miner Murchison Metals and Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation, is developing the $4 billion Oakajee deepwater port and associated heavy haul rail network needed to expand the Mid West iron ore industry.
Speaking to WA Business News, the former state bureaucrat and ex-head of WA's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the opportunity to play a senior role in such a vital development was too good to pass over for a born and bred Western Australian.
"It's very exciting ... this is an opportunity to do one of the great pieces of infrastructure development in Western Australia, one of the great pieces of infrastructure development in Australia," he said.
"I'm West Australian through and through, and without getting too cheesy about it, it's good for the state, the Mid West region, it'll open up a significant resources rich part of the world and ... and it's very important for that region."
Mr Langoulant's appointment comes almost five months after the departure of inaugural OPR chief Chris Eves, who returned to Melbourne shortly after overseeing the group's successful bid for the Oakajee tender and completion of a formal state development agreement with the WA government.
Former Rio Tinto Iron Ore and Hancock Prospecting executive Alwyn Vorster, who was acting chief executive, will now resume his prior role as OPR's chief development officer.
Mr Langoulant said his initial focus would be ensuring OPR met looming key milestones relating to the completion of feasibility studies for the port and rail development and finalisation of detailed project implementation agreements with the government due at the end of March.
"From all the briefings I've had so far, we are on track," he said.
The project is expected to start construction in early 2011 and export its first shipload of iron ore in late 2013 or early 2014. Helping underpin the project, the state and federal governments have committed almost $680 million for common user port infrastructure such as the breakwater and turning basin.
Murchison executive chairman Paul Kopejtka said Mr Langoulant's appointment represented a major boost for OPR.
"John brings outstanding experience and qualities to OPR that will deliver enormous benefits to the project as it moves through completion of the feasibility studies and locking in funding," he said.
"His extensive experience in government will also assist both OPR and the WA Government advancing the project as efficiently and expeditiously as possible."
Mr Langoulant said he expected his past experience would be useful in maintaining OPR's ongoing relationship with the government.
Similarly, he expected his strong contacts with China established during his time as under treasurer and the CCI would also assist with OPR's ongoing negotiations with prospective Chinese users of the infrastructure.
"The Chinese have got really significant interests in the Mid West and the provision of this infrastructure ... so those relationships are going to be extremely important," he said.
Mr Langoulant said his decision to join OPR did not reflect any discontent over his role with Mr Stokes.
"I've had two terrific years with (ACE), a lot's been done in that time, I've got great relationships and friendships there and leave on very good terms," he said.
