Australia's first bio-products plant opens

[Oz]

Australia's first bio-products pilot plant has been opened in Mackay in north Queensland.

 

The $10 million centre will aim to create fuel, plastic and chemical products from plant waste.

 

The centre is a joint project between the State and Federal governments, the Queensland University of Technology and Mackay Sugar.

 

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Read complete article

Author: Sigrid Brown

Date: 09/07/10

Source: ABC News Online

Copyright: © 2010 ABC

[Indycar]

Nice find Oz, I thought I'd look into this futher as there's been a trend of late that overseas investors have been buying out Sugar Mills/Organisations within Australia since the resurgence in the price of sugar, in the last couple of years. It seems Mackay Sugar is quite a stable mob that could probably hold these investors at bay. Which is a refreshing change.

 

Seems Mackay Sugar is leading the way with various environmentally friendly technologies within their industry. Hats off to them, as they've made quite a remarkable turnaround compared to a couple of decades ago. Champion effort Gentlemen.

 

Sweet news for Mackay Sugar Cogeneration Project

 

Wed, 10 February 2010

 

Mackay Sugar has issued contracts for the construction of a $120 million cogeneration power plant at its Racecourse Mill in Queensland.

 

The power plant will have the capacity to generate one third of the Mackay region’s electricity requirements from bagasse (sugar cane fibre waste).

 

The project involves the replacement of traditional boilers, designed to incinerate bagasse, with a more efficient high pressure boiler and a new steam turbine generator, capable of generating 36 MW. While providing power and steam for the Racecourse Mill and Refinery, it will also allow for the export of 27 MW electricity into the national grid.

 

Mackay Sugar Chairman of Directors Eddie Westcott said “This project is an important income diversification step for Mackay Sugar which will reduce the impact on the business of fluctuating raw sugar prices and enhance the profitability of the sugar industry in the region.”

 

Mr Westcott said that while the engineering aspects of this project have been at an advanced stage for a number of years, it was only with the passing of the Federal Government’s Renewable Energy Target legislation in August 2009 that the company has been able to secure an off-take agreement with an energy retailer in Queensland that provided the necessary financial returns.

 

The project is to be financed by funds generated by the business, a $9 million funding agreement with the Queensland Office of Clean Energy, and the balance through debt.

 

“With over 92 per cent of our shareholders voting in favour of the project in December, we were able to finalise the construction contracts and power purchase agreement, and then secure approval from the Credit Committees of Rabobank and National Australia Bank,” said Mr Westcott.

 

The main power plant will be constructed under a turnkey contract with AE&E Australia, with the ancillary work performed under seven separate contracts with specialised contractors.

 

During the construction phase approximately 450 people will be engaged on the project, a significant proportion of whom will come from the Mackay region.

 

The plant is scheduled for commissioning at the end of 2012.

Source: ecogeneration.com.au

[flatcat_auz]

My mate built a bio-diesel plant up that way a few years ago when oil prices where (and still are)ridiculous. The company was also floated on the stock exchange and my boilermaker mate and his mates earning big dough on this job sunk their money in. I nearly did too. It sounded like it would work.

 

Well it didn't and my mate lost 15k and another of his 40k. Not sure if this is the same plant 'reborn'.