Coronavirus: 20 staff on Gorgon LNG project locked down over virus fears
Chevron has put 20 staff on lockdown at Australia’s largest LNG project as one worker undergoes tests for coronavirus.
US energy giant Chevron has put 20 staff on lockdown at Australia’s largest LNG project, Gorgon, with one of its workers undergoing testing for coronavirus at the West Australian plant.
An employee returning from overseas developed symptoms while back on the Barrow Island site, home to the giant 15.6 million tonne a year gas export project which cost $US54bn ($87bn) to develop.
While Chevron continues to produce gas from both Gorgon and its Wheatstone facility near Onslow, the individual and about 20 close contacts have been put in isolation.
Barrow Island is an official nature reserve and is located 85 kilometres off the Pilbara coast.
“A worker on Barrow Island who had been overseas subsequently developed symptoms while on site and presented to the medical team. The medical team immediately followed public health guidelines and isolated the individual and identified all close contacts, who are now also in isolation. A sample has been taken and we are awaiting the outcome,” a Chevron spokesman said in a statement on Sunday night.
“The Western Australian Department of Health has been notified. Our thoughts are with our colleagues and we urge people to respect their privacy at this time. We continue to follow the guidance of local and international health authorities and have taken all the necessary measures for close contacts.”
The US energy giant operates both the Gorgon and Wheatstone plants which combined account for a third of all Australia’s LNG production.
Chevron’s Australian headquarters in Perth remain open but it’s reducing the number of people on each floor, reviewing work from home arrangements and conducting meetings digitally.
“We are following recent Australian government guidelines including reducing attendance at large events and imposing self-quarantine for 14 days to anyone who has travelled overseas. We have advised our workforce to defer all international non-essential business travel.”