Australian Future Energy Pty Ltd’s (AFE) $1 billion Gladstone Energy and Ammonia Project is now one step closer to delivery thanks to the release of terms of reference for the project’s environmental impact statement (EIS).
The project is expected to convert 1.5 million tonnes of coal to produce up to 230,000 tonnes of ammonia and 12 petajoules of synthetic natural gas per annum.
Ammonia can be used to make a range of products in the agricultural and mining industries, such as ammonium nitrate as an explosive in mining and nitrogen bases fertilisers in agriculture.
While ammonia is produced elsewhere in Australia, this is the first time that the proposed coal gasification technology will be used to produce ammonia in Queensland.
Plans indicate that waste fuel gases and heat created through the process will be used to produce electrical power required for plant operation, with surplus power exported to the grid when available.
The terms of reference are essential to ensure that any potential impacts of the natural, social and economic environment are appropriately considered in the EIS.
Once the draft EIS is completed to the satisfaction of Queensland’s independent Coordinator-General, the community will then be invited to comment on the project.
The Gladstone Energy and Ammonia Project is expected to create 800 jobs during its two-year construction period and up to 200 jobs for its 30-year operational period.
The project will be positioned 15 kilometres north-west of Gladstone, in the Gladstone State Development Area (SDA).
Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the project’s SDA location will support the region’s growing manufacturing sector.
“This is a strong endorsement of the Gladstone SDA and will generate ongoing benefits for regional suppliers and contractors that will grow local jobs,” the Minister said.
“It’s great to see the project progressing and moving closer to becoming a reality.”
Construction is expected to begin in mid-2020, with the first ammonia production expected to occur in mid-2022.