Detectives were at the scene this morning after they were alerted yesterday. Police have initially reported that there was damage to glass facings for eight pressure indicators and two visual inspection ports on plant equipment

Engineering giant Bechtel, which is behind construction of all three LNG projects on the island, did not go into detail about the damage caused but strongly believed it was deliberate.

“Some intentional property damage has been found during routine system checks on the project and we have reported it to the Queensland police,” Bechtel Gladstone general manager Kevin Berg said in a statement to Energy News.

“It is disappointing and unacceptable that someone has potentially put themselves and their workmates at risk of serious injury by doing this.”

Berg said Bechtel will fully support the police investigation.

“These acts go against our Bechtel Safety Values and all necessary action will be taken to remove the person or persons responsible from the project," Berg said.

“We have asked our employees to remain vigilant across the projects and to report any equipment damage or if they observe any intentional property damage taking place.”

Despite the seriousness of the allegations the Origin Energy and ConocoPhillips-led APLNG joint venture has confirmed the project is still on track.

In 2013 Bechtel reported that there were a number of winches at the Queensland Curtis LNG site which it believed were sabotaged with police saying a number of devices were missing nuts.

APLNG is expected to start exports in the December quarter with Macquarie Wealth Management forecasting an October start.

The project is targeting 9 million tonnes per annum of LNG across two trains.