The big QCLNG project is entering its production phase, leading operators to make 150 construction staff redundant.

Redundancies were announced on Friday, at a time when many staff were mourning the loss of welding superintendent Graeme Walker.

A spokesperson for Bechtel said the redundancies, dubbed “demobilisation”, were scheduled for the construction on Train One, from which the first shipment of gas for export from Curtis Island departed last week.

“We continually mobilise and demobilise employees as we move through the phases of construction,” the spokesperson told industry press MiningAustralia.

“As we move through commissioning and start-up of each of the six trains being built on Curtis Island, we will see a growing number of people demobilising.

“We currently have about 14,000 people working across the projects and that number will reduce gradually throughout 2015 and 2016 when all six trains are completed.”

But the company said that the final stages Bechtel will see more hires, taking on specialist trades.

“In fact we are in critical need of electrical instrumentation trades right now, so if you know of anyone looking for job with those skills, we’d love to hear from them,” the spokesperson said.