Name of the Project
Kooragang Island decarbonisation project.

Location
New South Wales, Australia.

Project Owner/s
ASX-listed Orica.

Project Description
Nitrous oxide, generated as a by-product of nitric acid production, is the primary source of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions at the Kooragang Island facility.  

To mitigate the GHG emissions, Orica plans to install proven nitrous oxide GHG emissions tertiary abatement technology at the facility from 2022.

The tertiary catalyst abatement technology uses catalytic decomposition to destroy nitrous oxide emissions.

The technology will be installed across all three nitric acid manufacturing plants used in the production of ammonium nitrate at Kooragang Island, and is designed to eliminate at least 567 000 t/y of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) from the sites’ operations. It is expected to reduce the sites’ total emissions by 48% and deliver a cumulative emissions reduction of at least 4.7-million tonnes of CO2e by 2030, based on forecast production. 

The Clean Energy Regulator has also approved the project as eligible to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units. 

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
A$37-million.

To facilitate the project, the New South Wales government’s Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program will co-invest $13.06-million, together with Orica’s $24-million, financed by a five-year debt facility provided by the federal government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation. 

Planned Start/End Date
Commissioning is scheduled for 2023.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Orica head of external and marketing communications Andrew Valler, cell +61 437 829 211.