BOOST FOR GLADSTONE – BOOST FOR QUEENSLAND
Published Tuesday, 27 March, 2007 at 11:16 AM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
27 March 2007
Yarwun: Acting Premier Anna Bligh today officially opened an expanded Yarwun explosives facility now rated as the largest of its kind in the world.
“Orica’s $200 million Ammonium Nitrate Plant Expansion expands the facility to be worth more than $600 million,” said Ms Bligh while inspecting the expansion.
“This expansion represents a boost for Gladstone and all the State’s mining industry.
“It also shows Orica’s faith in Queensland, particularly the Gladstone region, as a major investment destination,” said Ms Bligh.
“With this expansion, the plant will now have capacity to produce 600,000 tones a year - making it the largest industrial grade ammonium nitrate plant in the world.”
“The plant operates as part of Orica’s Mining Services, the world’s largest supplier of explosives, detonating systems and blast management services to the mining, quarrying construction industries.”
The expansion was completed last August - one month ahead of schedule and 12 months ahead of the benchmark for similar projects. The project involved 1000 contractors over the 15 month-construction phase and up to 400 contractors were on site at any one time.
“Many of these people were drawn from the local community,” said Graeme Liebelt, managing director and CEO, Orica Limited.
“The expansion created 30 additional jobs, taking the number of people employed at the site to 200,’ said Mr Liebelt.
Ms Bligh said the expansion ensures that downstream customers in the Queensland mining industry have a highly reliable quality supply of locally manufactured explosives.
“This supply provides a solid platform for the continued strong growth of mining activity and its associated royalties and revenues to Queensland.’
“The plant has allowed Orica to replace imported product with locally manufactured product to meet increasing demand. A great outcome on all levels - nationally, state-wide and locally.”
“The Yarwun site is also an important anchor for the surrounding development of the Gladstone State Development Area, an area that the Government is aiming to grow into a world scale industrial cluster.’
“The mining industry in Queensland is moving from strength to strength and the State Government is backing this growth industry all the way’
“In 2005-06, coal export generated an all time record of more than $17 billion – $6 billion more than the previous year’
“The Government is advancing a $4.2 billion infrastructure development agenda to support the mining industry in Queensland.
“This agenda is a comprehensive solution to supporting Queensland as a global leader in the international mining sector,” said Ms Bligh.
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
Yarwun: Acting Premier Anna Bligh today officially opened an expanded Yarwun explosives facility now rated as the largest of its kind in the world.
“Orica’s $200 million Ammonium Nitrate Plant Expansion expands the facility to be worth more than $600 million,” said Ms Bligh while inspecting the expansion.
“This expansion represents a boost for Gladstone and all the State’s mining industry.
“It also shows Orica’s faith in Queensland, particularly the Gladstone region, as a major investment destination,” said Ms Bligh.
“With this expansion, the plant will now have capacity to produce 600,000 tones a year - making it the largest industrial grade ammonium nitrate plant in the world.”
“The plant operates as part of Orica’s Mining Services, the world’s largest supplier of explosives, detonating systems and blast management services to the mining, quarrying construction industries.”
The expansion was completed last August - one month ahead of schedule and 12 months ahead of the benchmark for similar projects. The project involved 1000 contractors over the 15 month-construction phase and up to 400 contractors were on site at any one time.
“Many of these people were drawn from the local community,” said Graeme Liebelt, managing director and CEO, Orica Limited.
“The expansion created 30 additional jobs, taking the number of people employed at the site to 200,’ said Mr Liebelt.
Ms Bligh said the expansion ensures that downstream customers in the Queensland mining industry have a highly reliable quality supply of locally manufactured explosives.
“This supply provides a solid platform for the continued strong growth of mining activity and its associated royalties and revenues to Queensland.’
“The plant has allowed Orica to replace imported product with locally manufactured product to meet increasing demand. A great outcome on all levels - nationally, state-wide and locally.”
“The Yarwun site is also an important anchor for the surrounding development of the Gladstone State Development Area, an area that the Government is aiming to grow into a world scale industrial cluster.’
“The mining industry in Queensland is moving from strength to strength and the State Government is backing this growth industry all the way’
“In 2005-06, coal export generated an all time record of more than $17 billion – $6 billion more than the previous year’
“The Government is advancing a $4.2 billion infrastructure development agenda to support the mining industry in Queensland.
“This agenda is a comprehensive solution to supporting Queensland as a global leader in the international mining sector,” said Ms Bligh.
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900