Netherlands-headquartered BMT flagged with Energy News in April that it was looking at expanding into Karratha once it had set up shop in Kwinana, where the company hopes to start construction on a plant in the next two months.

 

BMT opened a new office in Perth's CBD in April after its global clients Chevron Corporation, Inpex and Shell recommended the move to give them an option for mercury treatment in their multibillion dollar investments in Australia.

 

However, a move outside of WA but still somewhere across Australia's north still fits within the scope laid out to Energy News in April by CEO Robert Jan Dubbeldam.

 

When in town for the opening of the Perth office last year, the CEO said that expanding its technology across northern Australia, where gas processing is concentrated, was a logical longer-term step, and design of the plant means it can be easily duplicated.

 

Contract secured Woodside as a client in May. Under the seven-year deal, Woodside will utilise Contract's new plant to process spent catalyst and hazardous waste by-products which are removed from the oil and gas production stream process.  

 

Contract's secure storage, processing and purification facility will be the first of its kind in Australia, with construction expected to start shortly.

 

While Contract beat BMT to the punch in Karratha as the Netherlands-headquartered group was focusing on Kwinana, BMT general manager Oceania Karen Boyce told Energy News it was worth it.

 

"We believe Kwinana is better suited from a transport perspective for the rest of Australia," she said.

 

"We looked at Karratha, but we're potentially looking at elsewhere in Australia, as there is mercury waste across the whole country."