Gas company Santos recently announced the layoff of approximately 200 employees, with a concentration of those roles being in Perth. The company explained that the move was necessitated by slower project approval times that have led to the reprioritization of their workforce to align with current business strategies and operating models.
According to Santos, the review of its Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Timor Leste business unit highlighted the surplus of roles, especially with late-life assets approaching closure. The company clarified that the extended timelines for new project approvals have disrupted their work programs, resulting in the delay of growth activities and the subsequent redundancy of the affected positions, including contractors.
Responding to inquiries in parliament, WA Premier Roger Cook emphasized that the job cuts were not a reflection of the state's environmental approvals process but rather a part of Santos' decommissioning cycle for aging assets. Cook expressed confidence that the impacted workers would find opportunities in Western Australia's robust resource sector. Additionally, while Santos had been in talks for a merger with Perth-based Woodside, those discussions ended without an agreement earlier this year.