Orica has completed an environmental improvement project at its Kooragang Island manufacturing site, resulting in an estimated 95 per cent reduction in ammonium nitrate (AN) particulate emissions.
This project underscores Orica’s commitment to sustainability and its response to community concerns regarding air quality.
The project involved retrofitting the existing prill tower with an innovative irrigated fibre-bed scrubber, designed to capture AN particles generated during the manufacturing process.
This state-of-the-art abatement technology reduces emissions of fine particulate matter, specifically those with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less.
The captured emissions will be recirculated back into the manufacturing process, contributing to the production of essential products for Australia’s resources and medical sectors.
German Morales, president of Orica Australia Pacific and Sustainability, emphasised the importance of this project in ensuring the site’s sustainability.
“We understand and share the community’s desire for better air quality, and we are proud to play a role in achieving this,” Morales stated.
He highlighted the collaborative effort with the NSW Environment Protection Authority to meet regulatory standards and deliver beneficial outcomes for both the community and the environment.
The engineering project, which took more than 18 months and involved over 115,000 work hours, also created around 50 additional jobs during construction, supplementing the site’s regular workforce of over 200 employees.
Morales acknowledged the technical challenges faced during the retrofit, particularly due to the existing 52-metre-high prill tower.
“Completing this project is a great achievement for the site and a testament to the expertise of our people,” he said.
In recent years, Orica Kooragang Island has undertaken several initiatives aimed at enhancing its environmental performance.
These projects include the installation of abatement technology on three nitric acid plants, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50 per cent, and transitioning to recycled water, saving the Hunter region approximately 2.6 billion litres of drinking water annually.
Additionally, the site has implemented a comprehensive ammonia management program, featuring three newly installed ammonia flaring systems.
Orica is also partnering with clean technology innovator MCi Carbon to establish a carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) plant, named ‘Myrtle’, at the Kooragang Island facility.
