LONDON, April 27 (Reuters) - Shell has starteddiscussions with employees in Australia about job reductions,the company said on Wednesday, as part of plans to cut 10,300jobs worldwide to lower costs.
"Shell last week commenced conversations with employeesabout business efficiency and staffing levels - as a result ofcombining it with the previously BG-owned QGC - a process thatwill lead to job reductions," a spokesman said.
Shell is in the process of integrating assets it acquired aspart of its $50 billion takeover of gas producer BG Group,including BG's Australian subsidiary QGC.
The integration of BG will lead to 2,800 job losses, Shellhas said.
This week, Shell announced the closure of BG's Britishheadquarters by the end of the year and the start of a voluntaryredundancy programme for staff in Britain. (Reporting by Karolin Schaps; editing by Jason Neely)