Queensland Coke and Power Project
Queensland Coke & Energy Pty Ltd (QCE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Macarthur Coal Limited (MCC), is continuing to investigate the feasibility of establishing a coke making facility.
Growing global demand for steel products over the past few years has resulted in increased demand for the raw materials needed to make steel including coke which is used in steel blast furnaces.
At present all of Queensland’s coking coal is exported for the manufacture of coke offshore. The development of this project would provide a major opportunity for value-adding to the state’s valuable coal resources prior to export.
The proposed coke plant will use modern heat recovery coke-making technology in a cost-effective and socially responsible way with significantly less environmental impacts than conventional coke-making plants. Emission levels are significantly lower than those resulting from older, by-product coke oven type technologies. The proposed plant is also designed to generate low emission electricity using excess heat from the coking process.
The coke making process does not rely on the combustion of coal. The coal is heated and volatile matter in the coal (gas) is driven off. The gas is combusted in an environmentally smart way and heat is used to produce both coke and electricity.
The Queensland Coke and Power Plant Project has been declared a significant project by the Coordinator General of Queensland. The Project has also received Australian Government recognition by being granted Major Project Facilitation by the Federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources.
Substantial progress has been made toward completion of the detailed feasibility study for the project. Some of these key milestones achieved to date include:
- selection of preferred technology
- development of preliminary plant design
- completion and approval of the Environmental Impact Statement process for a site at Stanwell in August 2006
- development of infrastructure plans for rail, water and port facilities to support the project.
Current Status (June 2007)
- since late 2006 QCE has been undertaking preliminary assessment of alternative sites to determine the best available site for the project
- QCE has deferred any material additional expenditure on the project until the preferred site is identified and at which time, QCE will again reassess the coke market.