$3.5 billion liquid fuels project planned for Felton
Ambre Energy today announced its intention to construct Australia’s first coal-to-liquids facility at Felton, ending months of speculation on its plans.
Ambre Energy Director, Michael van Baarle, said the project, ambreCTL, represented a $3.5 billion investment in the region in its first three to four years.
Mr van Baarle said ambreCTL could meet 20% of Queensland’s demand for unleaded petrol by 2014.
“Ambre Energy has access to commercially-proven ExxonMobil technology which will enable us to produce 940 million litres of high quality unleaded petrol and 150 million litres of LPG from Felton coal each year for the next 35 to 40 years,” he said.
“Projections show that the new project will generate 1,170 jobs during its two-year construction phase and sustain around 540 permanent jobs in operation.
“We are excited by the potential of this project, in terms of regional prosperity and state-wide economic benefits, and by the contribution that ambreCTL could make to reducing Queensland’s demand for foreign petroleum products.
“Australian transportation is becoming increasingly dependent on imported crude oil and our project will make local fuels from local coal, and attract new industry to the region.”
Mr van Baarle said in response to global economic conditions, ongoing market assessments and access to new technology, Ambre Energy had taken a commercial decision to change its project’s scale and scope.
He said ambreCTL would require an open-cut coal mine to supply four million tonnes per annum of feed coal to an unleaded petrol facility.
Coal from the mine would undergo a gasification process to a synthesis gas or ‘syngas’, be converted to methanol, and then subsequently to high quality liquid fuels.
“The environmental impact statement development process for the Felton Clean Coal Demonstration project will be discontinued.
“We will be producing unleaded petrol and LPG from proven technologies rather than building new markets for dimethyl ether,” he said.
Mr van Baarle said Ambre Energy would be required to undertake a new approval process for the project and that discussions were under way with all levels of government.
“Ambre Energy is applying for mining leases covering around 2,800 hectares. Only several hundred hectares will be mined at any one time, enabling progressive rehabilitation of the land.
“Ambre Energy is committed to developing a process for the cleaner use of Queensland’s coal reserves. We will work closely with local communities to ensure we minimize the project,s impact and maximise benefits for the region.”
Mr van Baarle said that if approved, project construction could start late in 2011.
More information on ambreCTL or phone 1800 262 285 during business hours.
Media contact:
Neil McGregor
0412 970 320
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