https://www.miningweekly.com

Incitec Pivot and FFI study green ammonia

11th October 2021

By: Esmarie Iannucci

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Australasia

     

Font size: - +

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Explosives, fertilizer and industrial chemicals manufacturer Incitec Pivot will partner with the green energy arm of miner Fortescue Metals, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), on a feasibility study into industrial-scale production of green ammonia at the company’s existing Gibson Island fertiliser manufacturing facility.

The study will assess whether industrial scale manufacturing of green ammonia at Gibson Island is technically and commercially feasible on an existing brownfield site.

It will investigate building a new water electrolysis facility on the site to produce around 50 000 t/y of renewable hydrogen, which would then be converted into green ammonia for Australian and export markets. 

Incitec Pivot MD and CEO Jeanne Johns said the study was a crucial step in contributing to Australia and Queensland’s potential as a green ammonia powerhouse. 

“We’re excited to partner with FFI who are committed to producing zero-emission hydrogen from 100% renewable sources. 

“The combination of FFI’s drive to develop a globally competitive green hydrogen industry, and our leadership and technical skills in ammonia production, will play an important role in developing Australia’s capability in this growing international market,” Johns said.

The partnership is considered one of Australia’s best near-term opportunities to produce green ammonia at an industrial scale.

“By investigating the re-purposing of Gibson Island, we can make use of the existing manufacturing plant infrastructure, our established production capabilities and our highly skilled workforce. 

“If feasible, this project would sustain highly skilled manufacturing jobs at Gibson Island and allow us to leverage our existing capabilities and assets to create a thriving renewable hydrogen ecosystem in Queensland,” Johns said.

“This feasibility study aligns with our vision to incorporate leading technology, our world class manufacturing expertise and green ammonia to produce sustainable products with a lower emissions footprint for domestic and international customers.”

The feasibility study also aligns with the strategies of both the Queensland and federal governments to develop a clean, innovative, and competitive hydrogen industry delivering reliable domestic supply and new export opportunities.

The Queensland government has welcomed the study, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying momentum was building in Queensland’s quest to become a renewable hydrogen superpower.  

"Queensland has an exciting future as a global powerhouse for the production of renewable hydrogen and renewables products and I want to thank Incitec Pivot and FFI for committing to this study.

“By backing Queensland to become a renewable energy and hydrogen superpower we will make Queensland a manufacturing superpower as well, which will create and sustain jobs long into the future.

“We are seeing an industrial green revolution taking place in Queensland, and it will happen in Australia and throughout the world.”

Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said if this feasibility study stacks up, it will allow the establishment of a large-scale green ammonia export facility at lower cost and in a shorter timeframe than many other locations around the world.

“That’s exactly the kind of leadership position our Queensland Hydrogen Industry Development Strategy is aiming to achieve,” he said.

“Three years ago we stepped in to support 400 ongoing jobs at this facility by securing local gas supply, and now this partnership to work towards making ammonia from renewable hydrogen positions these industrial manufacturing jobs for the long-term.

“Under our Queensland Jobs Fund we’ve committed A$2-billion to grow renewable energy and hydrogen jobs and provide a strong competitive advantage to Queensland businesses to attract investment in green manufacturing.”

The announcement of the feasiblity study between Incitec Pivot and FFI comes as FFI also announced the construction of the world’s largest electrolyser, renewable industry and equipment manufacturing centre at Gladstone, Queensland.



 

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION