Beckett exits Gorgon
Chevron executive Colin Beckett, who for the past nine years has been in charge of Australia's biggest resources project, the $US54 billion ($61.8 billion) Gorgon LNG development, has quit.
Chevron confirmed yesterday that 62-year-old Mr Beckett had decided to retire and would leave his job on November 18.
Mr Beckett is expected to remain in Perth and continue as Curtin University's chancellor.
The timing of Mr Beckett's resignation has surprised many in the industry because it comes just one year out from Chevron's revised Gorgon start-up date.
"It seems extremely unusual that you would leave so close to first gas," one industry player said.
Another suggested Mr Beckett's retirement plans may have fallen victim to Gorgon's budget and timetable delays. Originally slated to cost $US37 billion and be operational by the end of this year, the massive three-train project is now not expected to produce first LNG until the middle of next year at the earliest - a target Chevron's Gorgon partners Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil remain dubious about.
Some of Mr Beckett's responsibilities as Greater Gorgon Area general manager will be absorbed by his lieutenant, Gorgon project development director Scott Young.
Chevron sources say Mr Beckett's decision to retire was of his own making and would be marked with a celebration attended by some of the company's top US brass.
In an email to staff, Chevron Australia managing director Roy Krzywosinski paid tribute to Mr Beckett's "enormous contribution". "Colin's visible leadership in guiding the Gorgon project over the years has been outstanding and he has contributed significantly to setting the project up for success for years to come," Mr Krzywosinski said.
Mr Beckett said it had been a "privilege" to lead Gorgon.
"The next phase of Gorgon is operations and the Chevron operations leadership team and staff are in place to receive the plant and operate and maintain it over the next several decades," he said in an email to staff.
Mr Beckett's departure is tipped to be the first of several changes in Chevron's Australian business unit as it shifts focus from construction to operations.
