Queensland Gas secures radio support for LNG project

31 January, 2011 The radio network will cover all points in the supply chain.

Queensland Gas Corporation (QGC) has agreed an AU$14.4 million (£9 million) infrastructure support deal with Motorola Solutions for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the eastern Australian state.

Under the arrangement, Motorola Solutions will build a 28-site digital radio network to service the LNG project, The Australian newspaper reported.

QGC's project includes the development and exploration of coal seam gas reserves in southern and central Queensland as well as the construction of a 540km underground pipeline for carrying the gas to a plant near Gladstone for liquefaction.

According to The Australian, which obtained a statement from Motorola Solutions managing director Gary Starr, the radio network will utilise over 3,000 handsets, many of which will be certified "intrinsically safe" for use around the potentially explosive gas.

"The area QGC covers is a huge area and there's radio at all points in the supply chain," said Mr Starr.

"A radio can give off an electrical pulse so these units are designed to be safe in this sort of environment."

QGC has said that exploration and development of coal seam gas is concentrated in the Surat and Bowen basins, where its reserves and resources have reached more than 17 trillion cubic feet.

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