Name of the Project
Karratha urea plant project.
Location
In the Burrup Strategic Industrial Area, on the Burrup Peninsula, in Western Australia.
Project Owner/s
Perdaman Industries Chemicals & Fertilisers.
Project Description
The proposed project will transform natural gas into urea, which is used as a form of fertiliser for food production.
The project entails the construction of a two-million-tonne-a-year urea plant, which will use local natural gas for fertiliser production using innovative and low-emissions technologies.
Perdaman has secured 20 years’ worth of natural gas supply from oil and gas major Woodside.
Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to create about 2 000 jobs during the three-year construction phase and 200 permanent jobs in Karratha.
Capital Expenditure
The project will cost about $4.5-billion to implement.
Planned Start/End Date
Perdaman is hoping to achieve full production at the project by the second quarter of 2025.
Latest Developments
The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved plans by Perdaman to build and operate a urea plant.
EPA chairperson Professor Matthew Tonts has said that the conditions imposed on the approval reflects the authority’s commitment to ensuring the protection of the Murujuga peninsula’s unique environmental values, including the nearby rock art.
Murujuga petroglyphs have great significance for the traditional owners and are recognised as having immense state, national and international significance.
“The proponent will need to demonstrate that the project has no adverse impacts that accelerate the weathering of the rock art,” Tonts has said.
“We believe there is sufficient time – before Perdaman operations begin – for monitoring associated with the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy to be undertaken to develop detailed air-quality standards that ensure this level of protection.”
The EPA has said that it is particularly appreciative of the significant contribution by representatives of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation to the assessment.
A new study on the cumulative impacts of ambient air emissions in the Murujuga airshed was also considered as part of the environmental-impact assessment (EIA). These predictive findings will continue to inform current and future EIAs undertaken by the EPA in this region.
The EPA’s report to the Minister for Environment is open for a public appeal period, closing on September 20.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
SNC-Lavalin (construction contract); and Clough and Saipem (EPC – lead contractor).
Contact Details for Project Information
Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers, tel +61 8 9429 5111, fax +61 8 9429 5100 or email info@perdaman.com.au.