WITH all available land on the Burrup Peninsula allocated to major projects, the State Government has started looking for further locations for future downstream processing projects.
WITH all available land on the Burrup Peninsula allocated to major projects, the State Government has started looking for further locations for future downstream processing projects.
State Development Minister Clive Brown undertook a two-day tour of the North West last week to identify suitable locations for such future downstream processing projects in the State’s north.
He said the State could only afford to focus on one site at a time and put all of its resources behind it.
The Government will soon name the successful tenderer for the Northern Strategic Industry Areas – Environmental, Social and Economic Study that will examine Maitland/West Intercourse Island, Boodarie, Cape Preston, Cape Lambert and Oakajee as potential downstream processing sites.
“Through this process, the Government will identify the strategic industry that best achieves the simultaneous objectives of positive economic, social and environmental outcomes,” Mr Brown said.
He has made several trips to the State’s North West recently with the announcement of the Burrup Fertiliser project and others and the expected result of the proposed Gorgon gas development.
If given the go ahead, Gorgon is expected to generate around $17 billion in taxes and royalties over 25 years and it is hoped it will drive increased competition in the domestic energy market and generate millions of dollars in revenue for the State and Federal governments.
Gorgon is of particular importance not only because of those substantial royalties, but also because its gas reserves create the chance to develop a considerable downstream industry hub.
The State Government has allocated a $137 million infrastructure package to support more than $6 billion in gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula.
The infrastructure package would be used to build common user infrastructure including water supply facilities, upgraded port facilities and create service corridors and new roads.
The $620 million Burrup Fertilisers’ ammonia project is the first of the major projects on the Burrup Peninsula to commence construction.
The plant will be the world’s largest ammonia facility and produce 760,000 tonnes of liquid ammonia per annum for export to fertiliser manufacturers in overseas markets – particularly India.
Mr Brown said the provision of common user infrastructure would be instrumental in attracting major investment to WA and ensuring the State continued to lead Australia in economic employment and growth.
He said WA was competing with other international project locations that already had common user infrastructure in place.
