The creation of nearly 1,000 resource-based jobs for North Queensland is now one step closer thanks to the Queensland Government granting ‘prescribed project’ status to a processing plant for a resources project near Townsville.
Agripower Australia Limited has been open pit mining at a mine site near Greenvale since 2012, where the company processes amorphous silica at the Charters Towers Processing Facility. The silica from that facility has been used to create a silicon fertiliser as part of a pilot study involving product trials in over 14 countries. The silicon fertiliser is used in broadacre agriculture, horticulture, viticulture and organic agriculture.
According to Agripower, they have invested more than $100 million over the past 18 years to develop the resource and hold a mining lease, two mineral development permits, and four exploration permits required for the project.
The Greenvale mine is believed to be the world’s largest known resource of amorphous silica. At the processing rate and scale proposed by Agripower, the mine would be able to support a 200-year operational life.
A 45-kilometre overland conveyor system would need to be constructed to transport the product from the mine site north-west of Greenvale, from where it is proposed to be transported by train through the reopening of the 220-kilometre Greenvale to Yabulu rail corridor.
The new rail line is proposed to be a multi-user rail operation that could potentially be used for new and existing industries within the region and further reduce reliance on road transport.
The product would then be processed in a new facility around Yabulu, before being exported as Agrisilica from the Port of Townsville for use by international customers.
Agripower’s $663 million Fertiliser Expansion Project is forecast to create 490 jobs during construction and 470 ongoing operational jobs.