Hamilton said while the multi-billion project would directly employ about 100 to 120 people with a similar number needed for maintenance activities during its operations phase, Australian studies showed there would be huge multiplier effects in terms of employment, peaking about seven years after the start of LNG exports.
"Direct jobs on the North West Shelf was 250 but this generated 90,000 jobs around Australia. In a developing country the multiplier effects would be even larger," the National newspaper quoted him as saying.
He said Liquid Niugini Gas – a joint venture between InterOil, Merrill Lynch and Clarion Finance – plans to recruit and train people locals for the LNG plant before completion of front-end engineering and design studies that could commence next year and take about a year.
"By recruiting and providing three years of training before we produce LNG, we would have a significant advantage in our ability to accelerate staff nationalisation."
Up to 5000 people are expected to be employed during the construction of the plant, but only 20-30% of the workforce would be locally sourced due to the skills needed.
Hamilton had said earlier that the LNG project could generate up to 110 billion kina ($US37.2 billion) in direct-country benefits during its operating life.
Liquid Niugini's two-train LNG plant, which is expected to produce up to 9 million tonnes of LNG per annum from 2012, will be located near InterOil's existing Napa Napa refinery.
