As part of a joint venture called TRACE, our people deliver maintenance services to one of the world's most significant energy developments, INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG.
The Darwin element of the contract is operated entirely by locally employed people and is the Northern Territory's highest employer of apprentices with 17 people currently undertaking Mechanical and Electrical apprenticeships.
The efforts of our TRACE team were recently recognised in the 2020 Northern Territory Export and Industry Awards as a finalist for the Resources Supply and Service Award.
Our response to COVID recognised
This award acknowledges outstanding achievement and resilience by a Northern Territory business in the resource, supply, and service industry, particularly those who have adapted quickly, remodeled, and introduced collaborative and innovative techniques in response to COVID-19.
In response to COVID-19, our TRACE team worked closely with our client INPEX to quickly adapt business operations at the Ichthys LNG onshore processing facilities where TRACE operates. With the aim to keep its workforce safe, and under INPEX guidance, our TRACE management teams adjusted work schedules that capped the number of employees on site at any one time in line with new physical distancing restrictions. INPEX supported this move by paying for part of the workforce to remain at home on standby.
The new precautionary measures resulted in our TRACE mechanical and electrical instrumentation apprentices being unable to attend the Ichthys site. The freeze on their practical training was further compounded by the COVID-related closure of Charles Darwin University where the apprentices undertake their offsite classes.
Stuart Miles, Maintenance Services Contract Superintendent TRACE, said the team saw the COVID-19 disruption as an opportunity to diversify its apprentice training program and engaged local businesses to identify placements for apprentices.
In collaboration with local businesses Winnellie Hydraulics, Callidus, Combined Electrical, and Ventia (parent company), we were able to secure placements for each apprentice and set up a rotation program during the COVID period - a rotation that has been retained and still applies now during normal working conditions. The external rotations provide the apprentices with valuable hands-on experience and industry exposure, while also providing extra resourcing to local partners.
The attitudes and application displayed by all parties involved is a positive reflection of how local industry supports each other through tough times.
Pictured above: Stuart Miles, Maintenance Services Contract Superintendent with some of Ventia's TRACE apprentices.
About TRACE
Ventia's joint venture with Actemium (formerly Cegelec Oil & Gas), TRACE, provides maintenance services to the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG onshore processing facilities, near Darwin, which produces and ships approximately 8.9 million tonnes of LNG per year at peak production. The team is involved in the delivery of services in planning, coordination and execution across maintenance, campaigns, shutdowns and brownfield projects to the onshore plant.
Since its inception three years ago, TRACE has provided 6 apprenticeship opportunities every year (totaling 18 to date), making TRACE the Territory's primary employer of apprentices.
TRACE is committed to training its workforce of young Territorians to support the resources sector into the future. Working with local company Group Training Northern Territory, an organisation that provides employment and training solutions, TRACE has increased its skilled workforce through apprenticeship pathways.