Frank Tudor, MD of Jemena - Interview9 Jun 2020 13:22
Overcoming the outback
Published by Lydia Woellwarth, Deputy Editor : World Pipelines, Tuesday, 09 June 2020 08:30
Frank Tudor, Jemena, Australia, addresses the challenges of developing gas pipeline infrastructure across vast distances, difficult terrains and climates, such as in Australia.
The Australian outback is everything you think it is. As the books and films depict, it is hot, dry, and there is red earth as far as the eye can see. At more than 6 million km2, to some people it is a whole lot of nothing, but to others it is a land rich in history, culture, and opportunity. And it is in this remote, inhospitable, and demanding environment that energy infrastructure company Jemena has not only achieved one feat of engineering, but wants to do more.
Weathering the weather
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the mean maximum temperature at the Tennant Creek post office, in the Northern Territory (NT), is 32.2°C, with temperatures in summer comfortably above 36°C. That said, it is not uncommon for temperatures to be well over 40°C.
Conversely, in the ‘wet’ season, cyclones can dump enough rain to cause widespread damage and flooding.
“There’s no doubt, the climate of the outback is a challenge. It tests you all year round, which means increased levels of planning to ensure people’s safety,” said Frank Tudor, Jemena’s Managing Director.
“When we constructed the Northern Gas Pipeline between Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory and Mount Isa in Queensland, it required a high level of planning to overcome the local climate and environment, strong leadership and excellent co-ordination to ensure the health and welfare of a large workforce. We had to do additional things that so-called business-as-usual infrastructure projects just don’t require, such as building access tracks, erecting multiple remote camps, establishing sustainable sources of water, and managing complicated logistics for our local and fly in/fly out staff.”
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