Ingham biofuel production facility gets funding boost

The Palaszczuk Government is providing a $1.17 million loan to help make North Queensland Bio‑Energy’s proposed $640 million biorefinery near Ingham a reality.

Minister for State Development Dr Anthony Lynham said the project could create up to 450 jobs during construction, more than 250 jobs once operational and give local canefarmers a new market.

“This is yet another clean, green energy generator for North Queensland as well as a fresh injection of jobs and investment,” he said.

“Queensland is leading Australia’s biofutures revolution and we’re well on the way to achieve a $1 billion biofutures industry by 2026.

“We have Southern Oil’s $18 million Advanced Biofuels Pilot Plant in Gladstone, $8.64 million assistance for Mackay’s proposed $50 million biorefinery and another biorefinery by United States biotechnology company, Amyris.”

“This loan through our Biofutures Industry Development Fund will help bridge the last gap in the funding and investment cycle for this project.”

As well as the direct jobs created during construction and operation, North Queensland Bio‑Energy’s proposed facility will use  sugar cane sourced from around Ingham.

North Queensland Bio‑Energy’s project involves the construction of a multi-purpose facility to produce sugar, ethanol and renewable electricity for export on an 80 hectare greenfield site south of Ingham.

The company proposes to produce approximately 430,000 tonnes of raw sugar annually for export, 60 million litres of  fuel grade ethanol per annum and generate 550,000 megawatt hours of renewable "green" power for export to the local grid

Dr Lynham said the level of biofutures development taking place in Queensland showed measures in place through the Biofutures Roadmap were making a difference

Queensland is leading Australia’s biofutures revolution with our Advance Queensland Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan.

“This is just one of many new or expanded biofutures projects across Queensland that the Palaszczuk Government has supported in just 12 months.”

The Biofutures Industry Development Fund supports commercial-ready products or processes to reach a point where the proponent can access venture capital and get into production.

Eligible applicants need to produce a business case and demonstrate value for money, including the number of jobs their project will generate.

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Media contact:  Jan Martin 0439 341 314