The Australia-China Natural Gas Technology Partnership Fund is a joint initiative of the North West Shelf Venture and the West Australian and Australian Governments. The Fund provides opportunities for training, research and knowledge transfer between the people of China and Australia in the natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries.
The Fund is intended to be a practical demonstration of the desire of Australia and China to develop long-term mutually beneficial partnerships across the energy sector. An early outcome was the setting up of training centres under the Fund for Chinese employed in the gas industry in China, as part of preparations to ensure the supply and receipt of the first delivery of LNG to Guangdong in May 2006.
Training in Australia
Since May 2005, Fund-sponsored training in Australia has been carried out in Perth by the Australian Centre for Natural Gas Management (ACNGM), a joint venture between the University of Western Australia and Curtin University. ACNGM has trained groups of Chinese senior and middle-level managers from Guangdong project-related gas companies in various aspects of the natural gas industry, operations, technology and international supply.
The training course combines:
- English language training and cultural orientation;
- generic management training;
- specialist training in the gas industry; and
- operational training delivered by North West Shelf Australia LNG.
The program is regarded as highly successful by both Australian and Chinese representatives.
Training in China
Commencing in July 2005, Fund-sponsored training in Guangzhou, China has been jointly delivered by the South China University of Technology and Sun Yat-Sen University. The course targets technical employees of Chinese gas companies and provides basic training relevant to LNG receiving terminals, trunkline projects and city gas projects. Training modules cover topics such as:
- basic knowledge of natural gas;
- natural gas commerce and management skills;
- occupational, health and safety issues;
- management and maintenance of the city gas pipeline system; and
- natural gas legislation and regulations.
Annual trainee numbers per module have ranged from 100 to more than 2,000 depending on the subject area covered.
Other Fund Initiatives
The Fund has also supported joint study and research projects relating to the LNG and natural gas industries, funded its inaugural LNG Forum in China, sponsored exchange visits between Australia and China and contributed toward post graduate study scholarships focussed on the natural gas/LNG industries.
The Fund's website can be accessed at: www.gasfund.com.au