C2O Global Eyes Major Expansion in Australia Amid Rapid Growth

The Australian construction firm C2O Global, founded in Ireland, is poised for significant expansion, with plans to increase its workforce from 800 to over 2,500 within the next year. Co-founder and CEO Paul Buckley highlighted the company’s rapid growth, stating that C2O is expanding at a “serious pace.” The firm’s revenue surged from A$46.2 million (€26 million) in its inaugural year of 2023 to A$102.5 million in 2024, and it is projected to reach A$240 million in the current financial year.

C2O is in the process of acquiring a drone inspection business in Ireland, a move that Buckley anticipates will enhance its capabilities. The company has been actively involved in various infrastructure projects, predominantly in the energy sector, across Australia and the Americas.

Investment in Irish and International Operations

C2O has allocated €2 million for scaling operations in Ireland and an additional €6 million for international expansion from its Irish base. Buckley expressed optimism that this acquisition, alongside the firm’s extensive experience in major projects abroad, will facilitate bids for significant contracts, including projects related to ESB transmission lines, the Dublin Metro, and hydrogen production facilities.

Among the notable projects C2O is engaged in is a substantial Tesla manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas, where the company is responsible for telecoms, mechanical, and electrical construction completions and commissioning services. The firm also contributed to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the Gulf of Mexico for New Fortress Energy, which has plans to establish an LNG plant in Tarbert, County Kerry.

In Australia, C2O has been involved in several major energy and transport infrastructure initiatives. Buckley, who is originally from Cork, holds a 31% stake in C2O through an Irish firm, while the Australian private equity group Alceon, with A$5.5 billion in funds under management, owns 45% of the company. A considerable number of smaller shareholders also participate in the firm’s ownership.

Returning Irish Talent and Future Prospects

Buckley is hopeful about attracting Irish professionals back home to work on what he describes as an inevitable energy transition in Ireland. Many of C2O’s employees are originally from Ireland and are currently engaged in projects in Australia and the United States.

“We’re really upskilling a lot of Irish people on mega projects, and without a shadow of a doubt, there will be an LNG terminal in Ireland,” Buckley stated. “I doubt it will be the one in Tarbert, but there will be one somewhere.”

On March 15, 2024, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke is scheduled to meet with Buckley in Mullingar. Earlier this week, C2O hosted a global leadership summit in Kilkenny, further demonstrating its commitment to growth and innovation within the construction sector.