Initial Advice Statement finalised for ambreCTL
An Initial Advice Statement (IAS) for Australia’s first coal-to-liquids facility south west of Toowoomba, Queensland, is now publicly available, detailing the nature and scope of the proposed $3.5 billion project.
Ambre CTL Limited (a subsidiary of Ambre Energy) has submitted the IAS to the Queensland Government, which will determine if the project is eligible to be declared as a ‘significant project’ under the State Development and Public Works Organisations Act 1971.
As a significant project, the proposal would also be required to meet commonwealth requirements as specified by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The IAS will assist the Queensland Government to prepare draft Terms of Reference for the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), initiating comprehensive stakeholder consultation.
Ambre Director, Michael van Baarle, said the project, ambreCTL, could meet more than 20% of Queensland’s demand for unleaded petrol and LPG by 2014.
“It will provide substantial regional and state-wide economic benefits, creating up to 1,880 jobs during a two-year construction phase and 530 permanent jobs when the plant becomes operational.
“Most significantly, this project has the potential to provide benefits at a national level. It will bring a brand new industry to Australia and provide greater fuel security by reducing reliance on imported crude oil and fuel.”
Mr van Baarle said a declaration of ‘significant project’ would require an Environmental Impact Study and result in a rigorous assessment of the environmental and social impacts of the project.
This would include the potential impacts of the project and potential benefits to national, state and local communities.
“As a significant project, the Department of Infrastructure and Planning would coordinate the assessment process on behalf of the Coordinator-General for approvals required from various government agencies.”
He said if the project was not declared, the project would still proceed through state assessment and approval processes, and a voluntary EIS would be conducted.
Mr van Baarle said ambreCTL was a different type of operation to coal seam gas or underground coal gasification projects where extraction or processing takes place underground.
“In the case of ambreCTL, four million tonnes of coal per year will be extracted in a conventional opencut mining operation and processed to make fuel in a state-of-the-art facility where any emissions can be tightly controlled.”
Mr van Baarle said all social and environmental issues associated with the project would be addressed through a rigorous EIS process.
“Our commitment is to develop a process for the cleaner use of Queensland coal and achieve this with minimal impacts. For instance, mining operations will incorporate a range of stringent environmental management measures.
“Air emissions from the facility will be similar to those from a gas-fired power station and we plan to capture a substantial proportion of the carbon dioxide generated by the process.
“We are currently calling for nominations to form a community liaison group that will provide a forum for stakeholders to raise and discuss issues relevant to the project. We will also provide many other opportunities for people to be involved in this project,” Mr van Baarle said.
Ambre has applied for two mining leases and will apply for additional leases to cover 2,000ha of land 30km south west of Toowoomba. Only several hundred hectares will be mined at any one time, enabling progressive rehabilitation of the land. If the project is approved, construction could start late in 2011.
The IAS may be downloaded from Ambre Energy’s website at www.ambreenergy.com. People interested in information about the community liaison group can obtain a kit by emailing info@feltonCLG.com.au or by calling 1800 262 285.
ENDS
Media contact:
Neil McGregor
0412 970 320
Download "Initial Advice Statement finalised for ambreCTL" Media Statement as PDF
Download a copy of the Initial Advice Statement for ambreCTL
