Asia/Pacific News
Singapore Firm Plans Bunker, Services Operation in Australia
Singapore-based Ezion Holdings Ltd. (Ezion) plans to provide bunkers and services for the oil and gas industries at a new port on Australia's Tiwi Islands, The Australian reports.
Ezion, a contractor for the U.S. military, has reached an agreement with the Tiwi Land Council and the Northern Territory government to operate the port, which will export wood chips from local forest plantations.
Ezion has been active in Australia since 2009, working primarily at the Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
The company also says it is in talks with the U.S. military about storing equipment at the port.
"I was in with the US Marines Corps at the Pentagon last week," said Chief Operating Officer Larry Johnson.
"Now there are some US Navy guys here in town, talking to the Australian Defence Force."
Ezion is working with local firm Aboriginal Maritime to train indigenous people from the area to work at the port.
"We like to think what we are doing is providing proper careers," Johnson said.
"We get people trained up when we've got jobs to give them."
Major independent supplier OW Bunker announced Monday that it is launching a physical supply operation in Port Kembla, Australia, saying that it sees the Pacific as an area ripe for expansion.
