Economic Performance
Earnings - $1.6 billion in 2010
Return on capital employed 12.0 per cent
As for so many commercial organisations, our focus for 2010 was to remain competitive during the global financial crisis.
Whilst the Australian economy remained resilient, the global economic conditions did present challenges for certain parts of our business.
There was some reduction in demand for our services from major industrial clients who chose to delay or defer expansion and upgrade projects.
We also faced increased competition in some areas from global competitors who focused on Australia as a strong performing market.
The outcome was a 30.4 per cent decrease in our revenue from $2.3 billion in 2009 to $1.6 billion in 2010. Our return on capital employed during this same time increased from 10.4 per cent in 2009 to 12 per cent in 2010.
However, we remained committed to delivering the best value and service to our clients and ensuring we were meeting, and at times exceeding, our contractual obligations. We also saw some returns from our pursuit of new business opportunities, particularly in the industrial market.
Key economic performance data
New markets
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- Tank cleaning at BP Australia's Kwinana oil refinery
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- Water treatment plants for offshore platforms – North West Shelf
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- Effluent treatment and demineralisation plants for Woodside's Pluto onshore plant
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- Zero harmful discharge
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- Master services agreement
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- Industrial Water Project of the Year – 2010 Global Water Intelligence Award
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Case Study
Offshore platforms – North West Shelf
Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies is helping one of Australia’s largest oil and gas exploration and production companies, Woodside, to secure alternative water sources at one of its operating gas production platforms in Western Australia.
As part of a A$5 billion redevelopment of Woodside’s North Rankin Platform on the North West Shelf, Woodside is installing a second platform, North Rankin B, which will connect to the North Rankin A platform to form a single integrated facility known as the ‘North Rankin hub’.
In 2009, Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies was awarded the contract to design and supply a two-pass brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) plant for North Rankin B. This BWRO plant will treat water sourced from the North Rankin A seawater reverse osmosis plant, also designed and built by Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies.
The BWRO plant for North Rankin B, locally designed and manufactured in Perth, is designed to produce 120 m3/day of high quality water for the platform’s tempered water system.
Case Study
Effluent treatment and demineralisation for Woodside’s Pluto onshore plant
Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies completed the design and supply of an integrated effluent treatment and demineralisation package for Woodside’s Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Karratha, Western Australia.
Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies leveraged its worldwide expertise to deliver a comprehensive treatment package combining technologies from Veolia subsidiaries. The integrated package treats contaminated water, removing suspended solids and hydrocarbons for safe discharge and reuse on site. The treated water will be reused in various industrial applications including gas turbine washing and in heated water and closed loop cooling water systems.
Veolia Energy (Dalkia) was also involved in the project, providing the chilled water process cooling systems for the effluent treatment package.
Case Study
Zero harmful discharge
Hydrocarbon emissions are attracting attention worldwide, with Australian legislation becoming more and more stringent. Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies, through its subsidiary, Veolia Water Solutions MPP Systems, has developed a unique technology called ‘macro porous polymer extraction’ (MPPE) for the oil and gas industry that enables toxic content reduction, with 99.9999 per cent removal of hydrocarbons. This technology can treat offshore produced water, including the Woodside Pluto effluent treatment plant designed and supplied by Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies, so that water treated by MPPE and other technologies can be beneficially reused in a closed loop system as demineralised water.
