The company has just completed the 262km subsea Barossa Gas Export Pipeline which is a key milestone for the company’s Barossa Gas and Darwin LNG Life Extension projects that will help create and sustain hundreds of operational jobs in Darwin and inject billions of dollars into the local economy.

Installation of all 16 topside modules on the Barossa project’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) has also been completed at a shipyard in Singapore.

The FPSO is one of the largest ever built and will be moved to location at the Barossa Gas field early next year.

Santos CEO and Managing Director Kevin Gallagher said the company had an unwavering commitment to the Territory and would continue to deliver significant economic and social benefits to Territory communities.

“Santos is entering an exciting new chapter in the Northern Territory as we develop the Barossa Gas Project and re-life the Darwin LNG plant to process and export Barossa LNG for the next 20 years or so. Darwin will also be an important hub for our proposed Bayu-Undan carbon capture and storage project which will aim to decarbonise our own operations and help customers in the region decarbonise as well. The Territory could be front-and-centre of an exciting new industry helping the Australian and Asian economies meet their net zero targets,” says Mr Gallagher.

He encouraged anyone with questions about the Barossa LNG project or Santos’ operations to drop into the new shopfront in Darwin’s Smith Street Mall.

“It’s a place where people can learn more about us – what we do, jobs and business opportunities, how we protect the environment, our community programs and why gas is important to maintain energy affordability and reliability as we transition to a lower carbon future. We also want to listen and learn from the community – what we can do better or areas where we can play a role in supporting community endeavours,” says Mr Gallagher.

Long-term Territorian and Santos’ General Manager Darwin, Peter Kirkpatrick, sees the shopfront opening as a further sign Santos remains firmly invested in the Territory’s future.

“We have created new jobs to open the Darwin shopfront in the CBD which complements our operations at DLNG, further establishes our commitment to the Territory business community and embeds Santos within the social and economic fabric of the Top End,” Mr Kirkpatrick says.

The new shopfront is also a place where the community can learn more about the newly launched SantosKAEFER Integrated Services Aboriginal training program.

The program supports Aboriginal jobs with high-quality recruitment and mentoring to help overcome the barriers which all too often affect education, training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal people.

KAEFER Integrated Services provides scaffolding, mechanical and maintenance services to Santos’ Darwin LNG plant. In addition to training, the program also supports inductees through the recruitment process, providing Aboriginal Territorians with support and financial advice plus other services to help them in training and entry to secure well-paid jobs. Mr Gallagher says the initiative is enabling KAEFER to deliver 26 training positions at KAEFER sites and Darwin LNG over the four years of the agreement.

“Santos and our Darwin LNG partners are committed to real action to help close the gap on Aboriginal disadvantage in the Northern Territory. Training, education and good jobs are the building blocks for individual social and economic empowerment, and just as importantly, for stronger more resilient families and communities,” says Mr Gallagher.

KAEFER Chief Operating Officer, Trent Northover, says the company was committed to investing in its people from the grassroots through to long-term employment.

“This program will provide Aboriginal Territorians with structured pathways that will lead to meaningful, sustainable employment,” says Mr Northover.

Earlier this year Santos and its Barossa partners announced an investment of up to $10 million for Northern Territory coastal Aboriginal communities and homelands during the development phase of the project.

The investment will aim to improve community and homeland infrastructure and services as well as enabling people to maintain cultural practices and carry out cultural obligations and care for their country. Establishing pathways to skilled, wellpaying, secure jobs and business opportunities will also be a key investment objective.

In addition to the initial $10 million investment, Santos and its Barossa partners have also announced support for the establishment of a fund to deliver intergenerational progress for Aboriginal Territorians and build a better future for the next generation. It is expected the fund will begin delivering benefits to coastal communities the project’s startup in 2025.

As operator of the Barossa joint venture, Mr Gallagher says Santos has been engaging with leaders from the Tiwi Islands, east and west Arnhem Land, Darwin-Daly-Wagait and Victoria River District regions.

“Sharing the benefits of projects like Barossa is a meaningful step we can take towards closing the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people,” Mr Gallagher said.