Electricians in Australia are earning up to $260,000 a year working on offshore platforms thanks to extensive on-the-job training.

The Australian reports that trade unions have declared offshore electrical engineers the best-paid trade workers in the country, although Victorian secretary of the Electrical Trades Union Dean Mighell said they certainly earned their money.

He explained that by training in two core competences, electrical engineering and instrumentation, offshore workers provide a vital and flexible service in demanding circumstances.

"You have got highly skilled workers with two full-trade qualifications working in remote offshore locations for long periods of time. It's probably the equivalent of about ten years' full-time training," he added.

Australia's oil and gas industry received a further boost last month with the signing of a historic liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal between BG Group and China National Offshore Oil Corp.

Under the terms of the deal, the Chinese state energy firm will purchase 3.6 million tonnes of LNG per year from BG.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development