Awarded by engineering, procurement and construction contractor JKC Australia, the UGL Kentz JV is expected to start work in August and to end before the start-up of the Ichthys plant's second train.

Kentz said the SMP contract would provide more than 900 jobs for construction personnel.

"The contract scope includes the provision of services for site-wide installation for process trains and additional pre-commissioning and commissioning expertise," it said.

Kentz executive sponsor Michael Murphy said the contract was a great endorsement of its position in the Australian LNG project servicing market.

"This adds to the temporary telecoms package that our EPC business unit is now completing and the underground electrical and instrumentation construction contract awarded in 2013," he said.

UGL managing director and CEO Richard Leupen said: "Construction of the Ichthys LNG project, together with our recent significant wins in oil and gas maintenance, strengthens UGL's position as a leader in LNG construction and maintenance in Australia and further demonstrates our ability to service clients at any point across our end-to-end delivery model."

Located near Darwin, the Ichthys project is targeting 8.4 million tonnes per annum of LNG capacity, with first exports in 2016.

The project also aims to produce 1.6Mtpa of liquefied petroleum gas and about 100,000 barrels of condensate per day at its peak.