‘Carbon negative’ prospects for green nickel plant

A new report shows Queensland Pacific Metals' planned Townsville battery metals plant will be 'carbon negative'. The 'clean and green' nickel plant aims to draw on coal mine gas from the Bowen Basin which would otherwise be flared or directly emitted to the atmosphere. The company said an ISO-compliant Life Cycle Assessment undertaken by Minviro highlighted the TECH project as not only net zero carbon but net carbon negative as a result of that energy strategy. “For 20 years I have been working on mineral projects that attempt to minimise greenhouse gas emissions," QPM managing director Dr Stephen Grocott said. QPM managing director Stephen Grocott. "Never have I been able to work on one which can, not just reduce, but reverse emissions. "Offtakers are demanding strong ESG credentials for battery metal production and QPM ticks all the boxes. "The TECH Project will be a global leader in sustainability with net carbon negative nickel production, minimal waste and environmental footprint and developed world labour laws." QPM plans to process 1.5 million tonnes of ore annually at TECH to produce nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate and high-purity alumina - all in demand in the emerging electric-vehicle battery manufacturing market. The report undertaken by Minviro incorporates QPM’s currently anticipated energy strategy of sourcing gas from a combination of operating underground (80 per cent of requirements) and open cut (20 per cent of requirements) metallurgical coal mines. The company has an MOU with Transition Energy Corporation and North Queensland Gas Pipeline to work together on a gas field supply chain to the TECH (Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub) project. Related: TECH plant gas deal to build green credentials The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by Minviro includes all greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity, ore mining and transport to the TECH site, as well as the supply and consumption of all reagents and utilities. While there will be direct CO2 emissions and embodied CO2 impacts from the project, the report indicates this will be more than offset by the mitigated environmental impact from its gas sourcing strategy. The report calculates that the TECH Project will not just be net zero carbon but will actually reduce Australia’s carbon emissions by 14.9 kg CO2 equivalent for every kg of nickel in nickel sulfate produced. Based on the outcomes of the LCA report, QPM believes that the TECH project boasts by far the best ESG credentials in the world for all nickel projects – existing and planned The Minviro interim study will now be subject to critical review from an independent third party, in accordance with the ISO standards. QPM continues to work with its gas supply partners to finalise the long-term gas supply and transport agreements as part of the Definitive Feasibility Study for the TECH project. Dr Grocott indicated in September that construction of the TECH facility could begin as early as next year at the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct on Townsville’s outskirts, with production commencing late 2023.

‘Carbon negative’ prospects for green nickel plant

Industry Queensland

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