An Australian-United States joint venture has chosen Collie as its preferred site for a new facility that uses unique high-temperature technology to produce renewable diesel fuel from biomass.
Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan and Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray today announced $100,000 in funding from the Collie Futures Small Grants Program (CFSGP) for a feasibility study to assess the viability of the project.
Australian company Frontier Impact Group has teamed up with the US-based REEP Development to expand the use of the pyrolysis technology into the Asia-Pacific region.
If the project gets off the ground, it would create 48 plant jobs, 30 construction jobs and 120 indirect jobs.
The high-temperature pyrolysis technology involves burning biomass or waste to produce syngas, which can then be used to produce 100 per cent renewable diesel fuel.
The US is home to the only large-scale plant of this kind in the world, with the capacity to produce up to 27 million litres of renewable diesel fuel and 10,000 tonnes of biochar each year.
Both the $2 million Collie Futures Small Grants Program and $18 million Collie Futures Industry Development Fund are part of the Collie Futures Fund, aimed at diversifying the region's economy and creating local jobs.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Through the Collie Futures Fund, we are beginning to see some very exciting initiatives for boosting the local economy, including this unique proposal for producing renewable diesel fuel.
"Bringing sustainable technologies and investments such as this is a fantastic way to help Collie, and WA, transition lower carbon outcomes through new industries.
"This project has the potential to create dozens of direct local jobs and provide economic growth for feedstock suppliers in Collie and the wider South-West region."
As stated by Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray:
"Collie has a long history in the energy industry and projects like this show we have potential for a long future in the energy industry as well, including new green technologies.
"I am hopeful this feasibility study can demonstrate the project can deliver a successful business for the proponents and more jobs for Collie."
