The construction of the $29 billion Wheatstone natural gas project has begun after a groundbreaking ceremony was held at Onslow on Western Australia’s Pilbara coast.

 

George Kirkland, vice chairman, Chevron Corporation, said today’s event formally marked the start of construction of one of Australia’s largest resource projects.

 

“We’re constructing a facility that will benefit generations.  Like Gorgon, it will produce energy by redefining what technically-complex, environmentally-responsible projects look like in the 21st century,” Kirkland said.

 

The project is a joint venture between Australian subsidiaries of Chevron, Apache, KUFPEC and Shell, with construction estimated to take up to five years, with first gas being delivered from the facility in 2016.