Published Thursday, 30 August, 2007 at 08:45 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
SMART STATE TAKES STEP CLOSER TO CLEAN COAL WITH ZEROGEN
Premier Peter Beattie welcomed news today that development of vital technology to help secure the future of Queensland’s coal industry and the thousands of jobs it creates had reached a major milestone.
Mr Beattie told the Australia/New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, that ZeroGen had successfully completed the first stage of its test drilling program.
“The ZeroGen project is an advanced feasibility study that is examining the technical and financial viability of using a coal-based gasification plant integrated with carbon capture and storage to generate safe, reliable and environmentally responsible base load electricity with reduced carbon dioxide emissions,” Mr Beattie said.
“The company has informed me that the Drilling Program One results delivered in the analysis of geology for carbon storage have been a success, proving that the geology in the Northern Denison Trough is suitable to safely inject and store CO2 in saline aquifers.
“Put simply, ZeroGen has found – in this first stage – that they can safely store and inject CO2 into saline reservoirs.
“This will assist in locating reservoirs suitable for the long-term, safe storage of CO2, which is fundamental to any clean coal technology. So it’s a big hurdle successfully cleared,” he said.
Mr Beattie said the successful results meant ZeroGen could move onto the next stage of its feasibility study.
“The Board has just approved the next phase of test drilling to locate a reservoir with sufficient capacity for the project.
“The second drilling test will allow for an analysis of one of the greatest challenges facing clean coal technology – the costs associated with the Carbon Capture and Storage process.
“ZeroGen advise me the feasibility study will allow them to meet another fundamental objective - to reduce technical and commercial risk. They will then be able to sell their knowledge and speed up the commercialization of Carbon Capture and Storage right around the world.”
The feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Media:07 3224 4500
Mr Beattie told the Australia/New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, that ZeroGen had successfully completed the first stage of its test drilling program.
“The ZeroGen project is an advanced feasibility study that is examining the technical and financial viability of using a coal-based gasification plant integrated with carbon capture and storage to generate safe, reliable and environmentally responsible base load electricity with reduced carbon dioxide emissions,” Mr Beattie said.
“The company has informed me that the Drilling Program One results delivered in the analysis of geology for carbon storage have been a success, proving that the geology in the Northern Denison Trough is suitable to safely inject and store CO2 in saline aquifers.
“Put simply, ZeroGen has found – in this first stage – that they can safely store and inject CO2 into saline reservoirs.
“This will assist in locating reservoirs suitable for the long-term, safe storage of CO2, which is fundamental to any clean coal technology. So it’s a big hurdle successfully cleared,” he said.
Mr Beattie said the successful results meant ZeroGen could move onto the next stage of its feasibility study.
“The Board has just approved the next phase of test drilling to locate a reservoir with sufficient capacity for the project.
“The second drilling test will allow for an analysis of one of the greatest challenges facing clean coal technology – the costs associated with the Carbon Capture and Storage process.
“ZeroGen advise me the feasibility study will allow them to meet another fundamental objective - to reduce technical and commercial risk. They will then be able to sell their knowledge and speed up the commercialization of Carbon Capture and Storage right around the world.”
The feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Media:07 3224 4500