First shipment from Gladstone LNG project

Queensland's LNG industry passed another milestone today with the celebration of the first shipment from Santos' Gladstone LNG $US18.5 billion project to South Korea.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Minister for State Development Dr Anthony Lynham and Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher were in Gladstone today for a special event to mark the first shipment. 

"I'd like to congratulate David Knox and the team at Santos, including their joint venture partners and the thousands of workers that made this project a reality, on reaching this critical milestone," Ms Palaszczuk said. 

"With long-term contracts locked in, this project will play a vital role in Queensland's economic strength for decades to come. 

"With $7.9 billion invested with Queensland businesses, $200 million invested in roads, hospitals, schools and events and more than 10,000 people having worked on the project in Queensland, GLNG has delivered unprecedented opportunities to build long lasting benefits for regional communities. 

"And moving into the operational phase will mean long-term jobs for Queenslanders for the next 20 to 30 years through GLNG investments upstream and ongoing maintenance operations. 

"The LNG industry was initiated in Queensland by the former Labor Government, and we are proud of the economic benefits its will provide. 

"This is an exciting day for Santos and an exciting day for the Queensland economy."

Queensland is now on track to becoming a top tier global exporter of LNG with QCLNG's production commencing earlier this year and the $24.7 billion Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) on target to start producing later this year. 

Dr Lynham said that once all three LNG producers were fully operational it was estimated they could produce 25 million tonnes a year of LNG for export. 

"Overall, Queensland's LNG industry is ramping up, having already exported $1.14 billion worth of gas from January to July," he said. 

"Exports are projected to hit $15 billion by 2016-17, earning the state valuable export dollars and annual royalties while supporting thousands of jobs. 

"By 2018, Queensland could be the world's fourth largest LNG exporter and, by the end of the decade, Australia has the potential to be the world's leading LNG exporter. 

"The delivery of GLNG's project along with Queensland Curtis LNG and Australia Pacific LNG paves the way for Queensland to become a key player in the burgeoning Asian gas markets," he said. 

Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher said the Gladstone community was proud of playing such a central role in Queensland's economic growth. 

"Our community has a long history of being at the forefront of Queensland's export capability, and today is another important chapter in that story," Mr Butcher said. 

"The LNG industry, including Santos, has provided benefits and jobs to the local Gladstone community. 

"Today is a great day for Gladstone, for the region and for the State."

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