Australian energy company Worley Group has joined a consortium in winning a contract worth up to US$800 million to restore Iraq's oil infrastructure, Trade Minister Mark Vaile announced Monday.  

It is the largest contract awarded to an Australian firm in there construction process after the Iraq War.

The Worley Group, a supplier of professional services to the energy, resource and complex process industries, is part of a consortium that has been awarded the contract.

The Australian company holds a 35 percent stake in the consortium while the Parsons E&C and Parsons Corp of the United States 45 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

The contract, awarded by the US Army Corps of Engineers, covers a range of services including extinguishing oil well fires, engineering and construction to restore oil wells to safe operation, distribution of fuel within Iraq, and consulting services to Iraqi oil companies.

"The reconstruction contract will result in significant export income and a number of employment opportunities in Iraq and Australia," Vaile said in a statement.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2004)