Construction begins on Woodside’s Pluto Train 2 project in the Burrup

A $16 billion project that will see a second liquefied natural gas train at Woodside’s Pluto LNG onshore facility has reached a milestone with construction on the project starting.

Woodside announced construction had begun on the second Pluto Train at a ceremony, visited by Deputy Premier Roger Cook, on Wednesday at the North West Shelf Visitors Centre on Burrup Road.

Pluto Train 2 forms part of the Scarborough to Pluto Train 2 development, which would see gas from the offshore Scarborough field processed at Woodside Energy’s Pluto LNG facility.

The construction site is within the existing Pluto LNG boundary with Bechtel to execute the engineering, procurement, and construction of Pluto Train 2, which will have an LNG capacity of about 5 million tonnes per annum.

Bechtel has started site preparation, including office, crib hut and other facility installation, with initial earthworks and activities in the laydown and storage areas to start up before the end of 2022.

Woodside chief executive Meg O’Neill said the start of construction on Pluto Train 2 was a key milestone towards the delivery of the Scarborough Project, which would provide significant long-term economic growth and local employment opportunities for Western Australia.

“Many opportunities will be realised in WA, providing a boost to long-term investment in education and training, growing jobs and bringing work through the supply chain” she said.

“Scarborough gas processed through an expanded and efficient Pluto facility will support the decarbonisation goals of our customers in Asia.”

Bechtel Energy president Paul Marsden said Bechtel was pleased to start work on such an important project for the Asia-Pacific region.

“We are proud to do our part to invest in local communities and improve the quality of life where we work by creating jobs and opportunities, while also bringing greater energy security for the region,” he said.

The project has received support from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, with CME acting chief executive Rob Carruthers saying Pluto Train 2, in combination with the Scarborough development, would be a major provider of essential energy for decades to come.

“It’s also great to hear that Bechtel, which will execute the engineering, procurement and construction of Pluto Train 2, has already engaged a number of local and Indigenous businesses to support delivery, and that more will follow as the project progresses,” he said.

Mr Carruthers said it was important to point out that the LNG which Scarborough delivers internationally to North Asia will also be one of the lowest-carbon available, due in part to the technology set to be included at Pluto Train 2

Mr Cook, who is State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister, said WA is the world’s third largest LNG exporter, with 12 per cent of global LNG supply in 2021.

“Right now, we have a significant opportunity to further position the State as a safe and reliable supplier of LNG to the world, while strengthening our economy and delivering new local jobs,” he said.

“The development will support 3200 new jobs over the four-year construction period, and 600 jobs once fully operational, including around 230 local jobs for the Karratha region.”

Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel the development of the Pluto Train 2 project will boost local jobs for both development and upon completion.

“Not only will the project boost the Pilbara’s economy, but it will also establish a strong position for WA as one of the world’s largest LNG exporters,” he said.