QAL is celebrating another milestone in our refinery’s long history after turning 57 years young on Sunday, 4 August.
QAL kickstarted the birthday celebrations by handing out cake to team members at entrance gates across site last week, encouraging them to test their knowledge of our refinery’s history with a birthday trivia quiz.
In an interview with 4CC, QAL Bayer Production Manager, Glen Que, reflected on QAL’s growth throughout the years after beginning his own career with our operations as an apprentice electrician.
“We’re extremely proud to reach another milestone in our refinery’s history while supporting our region through decades of community investment, while recruiting the largest workforce in the region,” Mr Que said.
“I started my own working career in Gladstone with QAL as an apprentice electrician, before carrying on into various roles in other companies and coming full circle back to QAL, where I moved into leadership positions,” he said.
Construction on QAL began with the closure of the local meatworks in 1964. The Parsons Point location was recognised as the ideal candidate for operations with credit to deep port access, a readily available workforce from the meatworks and, proximity to bauxite supply from Weipa.
QAL officially began production in 1967 as the world’s largest refinery, executing multiple expansions in the following years while leveraging the skills of a workforce closely knit with the neighbouring community.
“QAL does have a strong reputation in Gladstone, and I have many good memories, especially over the past few years,” Mr Que said.
“We’ve hit significant milestones and undertaken really challenging projects onsite, including the 5-Year Environment Strategy, which I was involved with through the installation of a new alumina shiploader.
“This is a really important part of QAL’s history and we’re just as invested in our local community as ever before, continuing to support events and community organisations through our community investment fund.”
Having built strong foundations and a lasting legacy, QAL has a bright and long future ahead.
“QAL has a really clear pathway to how we decarbonise and reduce our emissions as a refinery, so that will be the next piece of work over the next decade as we work through those projects and ensure QAL can continue to operate and support generations of the community to come,” he said.
Listen to the full interview below. Learn more about our History and Contributions here.
Pictured: QAL acting Chief Financial Officer Rob Eastabrook and Bayer Production Manager Glen Que sharing celebrate QAL’s 57th Birthday by sharing cake with team members.
