Investor Updates
BHP, Santos to develop resources innovation centre in Adelaide
5 September 2013
Australian oil and gas giants BHP Billiton and Santos will partner with the South Australian Government to develop a new mining and petroleum innovation centre in Adelaide, and Santos will move its training facilities there.
The plans bolster Australia’s reputation for collaboration between government, industry and academia, a combination that broadens scope for commercial success and often shortens the time needed to bring projects to market.
The centre aims to bring together major resource companies, universities and mining services businesses to foster and coordinate innovation and applied research initiatives that have a global impact.
"Santos plans to relocate its training facilities to the new centre as it builds on more than 50 years exploration and production experience in the Cooper Basin," Santos Vice-President Eastern Australia James Baulderstone said.
South Australia’s Cooper Basin is the site of some of the nation’s most important petroleum and natural gas sources.
Mr Baulderstone said Santos supported the centre, to be developed in the Adelaide suburb of Tonsley, as a critical step to realising the potential of the unconventional gas business in South Australia.
"We anticipate the Tonsley project will establish Adelaide as the centre for learning and innovation in the unconventional gas business both in Australia, and for that matter the South-East Asian region," he said.
Tonsley is the centrepiece of the South Australian Government’s plans for a collaborative industry, education and residential precinct.
German engineering company Siemens recently unveiled plans to build a repair and maintenance plant there as part of a sustainable technologies precinct.
The South Australian State Government has allocated A$6 million over four years to help finance the centre. BHP Billiton has committed $10 million to education, training and research activities there.
"BHP Billiton and Santos are early movers but the door is open to other major companies and mining services firms interested in joining us as partners in supporting research that can have applications beyond our borders," South Australia’s Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Tom Koutsantonis, said.
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