MEO Australia - Projects

Opportunities For Australia & Darwin
The Tassie Shoal Methanol Project has gained its environmental approvals and is in the process of finalising various commercial undertakings. Providing the timely resolution of all commercial matters is achieved, the project would be developed in two phases. Commissioning of the first 5000 t/day methanol plant is planned for 2009 and the second plant approximately three to four years later. While it is likely that the CGS and methanol process plant would be constructed in Southeast Asia, Australia and Darwin could benefit from many construction opportunities. The project requires a number of substantial support facilities, with cost estimates in the range of AU$50-100 million, which are all capable of being constructed in this country. These include the following:

Accommodation platform jacket structure,
Control, administration and accommodation modules,
Helideck,
Bridge links between process CGS and accommodation platform,
Flare structure,
Loading jetty structure components, including concrete gravity foundations,
Pipelines for product off-loading, gas supply and seawater cooling return.

Additionally, during operation of the plants, many supplies and services will be required. There will be up to 60 personnel located offshore at any time, and approximately 150 total employees, virtually all of whom would reside in Darwin. It is likely that the level of logistic and ancillary support for this offshore operation would exceed any similar onshore facility and has been estimated to cost in the range of AU$30-50 million each year.

Apart from the onshore housing and services demand generated by these highly skilled and well paid employees, many services will be contracted to Australian businesses. These will include:

Transport services (marine and air),
Offshore personnel support (supplies/catering, laundry, training, etc.),
Maintenance (rotating equipment, electrical/instrumentation),
Onshore warehousing (spares, catalyst/chemicals, waste disposal, freight/customs),
Fuels and lubricants.

Many other benefits will accrue from this Project, including the direct employment mentioned above, the indirect employment of many hundreds of others by the support companies involved in logistic support, maintenance and the technical expertise that will naturally evolve.

Additionally, this plant would be one of the largest methanol production facilities in the world, utilizing the most advanced process technology and brings to Australia a new downstream processing industry not currently represented in a commercial operation.

Regional Benefits:
The project offers many commercial and business opportunities to the Northern Territory and in particular Darwin. As described above, the ongoing logistic support to the project would be primarily sourced from Darwin, the annual value exceeding AU$30 million.

MEO is working closely with the Northern Territory Government and its agencies in identifying the existing skill and capability levels in the local community. This applies to both the construction and operational phases. As part of this process and following consultation with the NT Minister for Resource Development, the Hon. Paul Henderson MLA, requests for Expressions of Interest and Capability have been publicised throughout Australia (see advertisement copy below).

The opportunities not only relate to commercial undertakings, but would also impact on the local tertiary education institutions. It is planned that the majority of operational personnel would be sourced from the local community. Various fundamental training courses have been identified and these could be introduced into the existing institutions prior to the commencement of project operation in an effort to develop the necessary skill-base. These qualifications include process, mechanical and electrical engineers, electrical trades, instrument and panel technicians, laboratory technicians, maintenance fitters, welding, catering, HR and first aid.

Expressions of Interest and Capability
Methanol Australia Limited continues to seek Expressions of Interest and Capability for various construction and operational aspects of the Tassie Shoal Methanol Project. This project proposes to install methanol production facilities on concrete gravity structures (CGS) to be located on Tassie Shoal in the Timor Sea. Tassie Shoal is an area of shallow water adjacent to the Evans Shoal gasfield and approximately 275 km north of Darwin. Further responses regarding the following activities would be appreciated:

Phase 1 Construction: The design and construction period would occur from 2006 to 2008. Expressions are sought for onshore fabrication of heavy steel structures for offshore installation. These elements of the project include accommodation platform jacket and topsides, bridge-links, flare structure, jetty superstructure, piping, base/armour rock supply and placement, construction and transport services.

Phase 1 Operation: Commencing from commissioning, the project will require operational logistic support from Darwin. Expressions are sought for the following categories:

Transport services (marine and air),
Offshore personnel support (supplies/catering, laundry, health, training, etc.),
Maintenance (rotating equipment, electrical/instrumentation, turnaround),
Onshore warehousing (spares, catalyst/chemicals, waste disposal, freight/customs),
Fuels and lubricants.

Companies interested in receiving further information about these opportunities should write or email to the address below indicating their specific area of capability and provide a detailed supporting corporate profile. Australian organizations with operational bases in Darwin are encouraged to respond to this enquiry.
Level 25, 500 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
admin@methanol.com.au

Corporate I Latest News I Projects I About Methanol I About LNG
Environmental Impact Statement I Q & A I Contact Us I Stock Price