Engineering group Monadelphous says it has secured an $80 million contract to provide maintenance services to Queensland Curtis LNG at its new gas plant.

The contract covers maintenance and shutdown services to support the operations phase of the plant, which is under construction at Curtis Island near Gladstone in Queensland.

Queensland Curtis LNG, a subsidiary of global energy player BG Group, is a coal seam gas explorer and producer that is seeking to convert coal seam gas into liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Perth-based Monadelphous said the the deal meant it would become a key service provider on one of Queensland’s first coal seam gas LNG plants.

“This contract will provide new employment opportunities in the region and add to our growing portfolio of LNG work,” managing director Rob Velletri said in a statement.

The six-and-a-half-year contract begins in January, 2013.