PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The federal government has awarded Major Project status to ASX-listed Strike Energy’s Project Haber urea fertiliser project, in Western Australia.
The A$3-billion urea manufacturing facility in the Narngulu Industrial Area, near Geraldton, will produce up to 1.4-million tonnes a year of urea from clean hydrogen and natural gas.
Urea is the most commonly used solid nitrogen fertiliser, and Australia is almost completely dependent on imports of urea to support the nation’s agricultural sector.
Strike Energy is developing Project Haber to provide lower cost, lower carbon emissions fertiliser to Australian farmers.
Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the project was estimated to support 1 135 full-time jobs each year during the three-year construction phase and 300 full-time jobs per year over its 30-year life.
“Strike Energy’s project has enormous potential for job creation and emissions reduction through embracing new technologies and onshore manufacturing. The facility has the potential to deliver significant emissions reduction to Australia’s urea manufacturing sector through the use of advanced ammonia and gas processing technology, as well as dedicated clean hydrogen.
“It also aims to reduce the reliance of Australian farmers on international supply chains to enhance our food security, given more than 90% of urea is currently imported.”
Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt said Strike Energy intended to also establish a regional skills centre for downstream manufacturing to train locals in operations and maintenance.
“This is a great step forward in skilling up people for jobs in regional areas. I look forward to watching this development energise this region throughout the supply chain, as well as in the local manufacturing and farming sectors.”
Strike Energy MD Stuart Nicholls welcomed the Australian government’s support for Project Haber.
“Australia has one of the world’s greatest endowments of natural resources, whether that is gas, wind, solar or geothermal energy. At Strike we believe we should maximise the benefit of those resources for the nation by adding value to them here,” Nicholls said.
“By re-domesticating urea manufacturing in Western Australia’s Mid West, Strike’s Project Haber will create regional jobs, incubate Western Australia’s hydrogen economy whilst making our agriculture sector more competitive and carbon efficient.”
Projects awarded Major Project status have access to extra support from the Major Projects Facilitation Agency, including being provided with a single entry point for Australian government approvals, project support and coordination.