NZ Engineering Expertise Helping Australia Energy Future

15 November 2011

MEDIA STATEMENT

NZ Engineering Expertise Helping Australia Energy Future

As people all over New Plymouth prepare for bed this Tuesday, a massive energy project will be on the move.

Fitzroy Engineering has just completed fabrication of accommodation modules to be used as part of the BassGas Project in Bass Strait, which separates the Australian mainland from Tasmania.. The project will commercialise gas from the region’s Yolla gas field and will meet about 10 per cent of Victoria’s current demand for 15 years.

The megamodule, the biggest ever structure to be moved in New Plymouth, will
travel by specialised road transport some 8.5km from the Fitzroy Engineering facility to the Taranaki Port, for final supplementary work, prior to loading and transport to Australia.

PEPANZ Chairman John Bay said the project was a tangible demonstration of the breadth and depth of the energy sector in New Zealand.

“This project shows the expertise companies like Fitzroy Engineering have built up in energy related projects over the years, which has made them a world class provider of energy fabrication services, of which the accommodation modules are an example.

“It is easy to forget that the energy sector is not only a provider of vital oil and gas for the nation, but has also been instrumental in the development of a large number of energy support services, for both the New Zealand and global energy industry. These support companies contribute jobs throughout Taranaki, and indeed all over New Zealand.

“The movement of the this accommodation megamodule reminds us that New Zealand is part of the global energy industry, bringing job opportunities, training and economic benefits to New Zealand.

“Thirty years ago modules built in Japan were required for New Zealand energy projects - today the traffic is the other way as New Zealand companies have acquired the skills and expertise to support energy projects globally,” Mr Bay said.

ENDS

Fact about the Yolla Accommodation Module
• Trees have been trimmed, bridges strengthened and highway infrastructure removed. The module road train will trawl very slowly through the centre of New Plymouth and is scheduled to reach its port destination in approximately 8 hours on the morning of the 16th.
• The Accommodation Module is the biggest ever single fabrication project undertaken by Fitzroy Engineering, New Plymouth
• Over 100,000 manhours of design, fabrication, assembly and testing work have been expended by Fitzroy and WorleyParsons over the last two years
• The contract value to Fitzroy was approximately $35 million
• The module is around 19 metres high (equivalent to a five storey building), 33 metres long, 13 metres wide and will weigh in at some 625 tonnes
• The module comprises a services/utilities deck, living quarters deck (37 beds) and a deck that includes the galley, mess areas, gym and offices

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