Australian Future Energy’s (AFE) $1 billion Gladstone Energy and Ammonia project is one step closer to beginning development with the release of the terms of reference for the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
“The terms of reference will ensure potential impacts on the natural, social and economic environment are appropriately considered.
“Once the draft EIS is completed to the satisfaction of Queensland’s independent Coordinator-General, the community will then be invited to comment and have their say on the project,” Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said.
The billion dollar project is going to be located in the Gladstone State Development Area (SDA) - approximately 15 kilometres north west of Gladstone - and it is expected to generate up to 1,000 jobs for the region.
“AFE’s project will deliver a significant boost to the Gladstone economy, creating 800 jobs during the two-year construction period and up to 200 direct jobs for the 30-year operational period,” Mr Butcher said.
The Gladstone Energy and Ammonia project is going to be the first of its kind in Australia. The proposed facility is set to convert approximately 1.5 million tonnes of coal in a year to produce 230,000 tonnes of ammonia, 12 petajoules of synthetic natural gas as well as 25MW of electrical power.
The project will feature:
Coal supply system
Coal gasification plant
Gas processing plant
Ammonia processing plant
Combined cycle gas power generation plant
Utilities and ancillary infrastructure
Waste gas and heat produced from processing is going to be used to create electrical power for plant operations and excess power to be exported to the grid when necessary.
According to Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick, this project is anticipated to support the growing manufacturing industry in the Gladstone SDA.
“This is a strong endorsement of the Gladstone SDA and will generate ongoing benefits for regional suppliers and contractors that will grown local jobs.
“It’s great to see the project progressing and moving closer to becoming reality,” Mr Dick added.
Construction of the project is anticipated to commence in mid-2020 and the first ammonia produced by mid-2022.
What do you think of this proposed project in the Gladstone SDA? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Source: Queensland Government (1, 2); Mirage News; Australian Future Energy