Chinese firms Sinopec and China State Construction and Engineers are doing the engineering, procurement and construction phase of the facility.

 

"This complements the agreements we already have with two Dubai-based companies: A2Z LLC to design the heavy fabrication engineering plant, and Fabtech International to manage the facility for us," he told media in Port Moresby.

 

"The facility will have a capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year, producing steel, mechanicals, piping and electrical modular packages, such as those that will be necessary in the construction phase of the Papua LNG project and subsequent LNG and mining projects."

 

Sonk said the facility would provide employment for around 1000 skilled workers and indirect jobs for about 3000 others when up and running. These employment numbers could double if the factory ran 24 hours a day.

 

"Kumul is expecting to work with the Papua LNG Project's EPC contractors to start using the facility when the project achieves final investment decision and enters the construction phase later this year or early next year," Sonk said.