Situated 10km north-west of Gladstone, Yarwun alumina refinery produces 3.4Mtpa of high quality product. Similarly to the QAL facility, where Walz is also engaged, Yarwun uses the world class four stage Bayer process to refine bauxite mined in Weipa on Queensland’s western Cape York. The expanded refinery incorporates a 160Mw cogeneration facility which significantly reduces the operations’ greenhouse gas impact and feeds surplus low emission electricity back into the Queensland electricity grid.

We have been working at the Yarwun refinery for many years and have a strong relationship with the facility’s operations team. With a workforce situated at the site, we provide comprehensive maintenance and shutdown services, as well as general sustainability works. We also support ongoing operations through our piping fabrication, protective coating, and light, medium and heavy fabrication facilities.

Throughout our long standing relationship, we have also completed several major capital works projects. In the last five years, Walz Group has worked with the Rio Tinto Yarwun team to deliver more than 290 projects valued at over $32M.

Some of our major capital works projects at Yarwun have included:

Thickener Corrosion Repairs

• Completed: 2019
• Project Value: $1.4 million

Caustic Line Replacement

• Completed: 2019
• Project Value: $1.5 million

Petite Sweeting Project– Structural steel and pipe installation works

• Completed: 2018
• Project Value: $2 million

Oxelate Project– Structural steel and pipe installation works

• Completed: 2018
• Project Value: $2.2 million

Mill LiqUOr Line & Spent Liquor Pipeline replacement

• Completed: 2017
• Project Value: $1.9 million

Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) was Australia’s first alumina refinery and remains one of the largest in the country. Covering an 80 hectare site on the outskirts of Gladstone, the refinery produces around 3.8Mtpa of high grade product. The bauxite that is processed to make alumina is mined in far north Queensland and shipped 2,000km to Gladstone. Alumina is produced through the continuous four state ‘Bayer’ process.

Walz Group has a longstanding relationship with QAL and we are proud to be a trusted provider of scheduled maintenance and shutdown projects, as well as ongoing sustainability works. We also provide scaffolding services for shutdown works through our specialist plant and equipment. Walz also supports the refinery through our light, medium and heavy and piping fabrication facilities and protective coating services. Our constant presence on site supports the smooth operation of the refinery through a range of ongoing works. We also perform occasional major capital works.

Over the past five years we have carried out more than 390 projects at QAL, valued in excess of $46M. The works ranged from minor sustainability such as handrail replacements, to major capital works projects like replacing a conveyor.

Some of our key projects at QAL include:

• Caustic Tank Floor Replacement (T15Q005 + T1515)
• Major evaporation turnaround works
• Power steam header remediation and upgrade works
• Conveyor replacements
• Miscellaneous structural, mechanical and piping works as required
• Miscellaneous shutdown works as required
• Providing scaffolding services for all shutdown works

The concurrent development of three liquified natural gas (LNG) plants on Curtis Island was an unprecedented achievement. It formed a significant part of what is, to date, the largest concentration of private capital investment in Australian history. This landmark program of work resulted in three plants that now yield roughly 8% of the world’s total LNG production.

The three facilities are owned by Queensland Curtis LNG (a joint venture of QGC – now a Shell-owned business, with China National Offshore Oil Corporation, and Tokyo Gas), Australia Pacific LNG (a joint venture of ConocoPhillips, Origin and Sinopec), and Santos GLNG (a joint venture of Santos, Petronas, Total, and Kogas)

There are six LNG trains on the island. Walz Group was engaged to provide structural, mechanical, and piping services for the installation of Train 2 for the QCLNG Plant.

Following completion of the QCLNG installation works, Walz was contracted by Bechtel to perform maintenance and warranty works for all three plants on the Island.

In addition to our ongoing warranty works, Walz supports operations on the island through our fabrication workshop and protective coating facility.

Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) supports the trade of Central Queensland’s major resources, including coal, LNG, alumina, and agricultural products. GPC operates the port precincts in Gladstone, Rockhampton and Bundaberg. In the 2018 financial year, GPC ports were visited by 1,911 ships and processed 120 million tonnes of product.

As Gladstone locals, Walz Group has a long standing relationship with GPC. We’ve worked with them for more than 10 years, providing a range of services including piping fabrication, protective coating, and light, medium and heavy fabrication. We also have a consistent workforce based at the Gladstone Port, supporting GPC’s operations through a range of maintenance and improvement works, and selected capital works projects. Over the last five years we have carried out more than 140 projects at the port, valued at over $21M

We are currently engaged in mechanical life extension works, and corrosion and NDT repairs for Shiploaders 1, 2, and 3.

Some of our major capital works projects at the GPC Gladstone Port have included:

Stockpile 15 to 22 – Fabrication and Installation of a new Coal transferring conveyor system

• Completed: 2014
• Project Value: $112 million

Supply and Installation of 3 New Coal Product Transfer Trippers

• Completed: 2013
• Project Value: $3 million

Stockpile 22 – Fabrication and installation of a new Coal transferring conveyor system

• Completed: 2012
• Project Value: $16 million