Progress News
Value Chain Opportunities for Gladstone
31st January, 2005
GEIDB seeks value chain opportunities for Gladstone
In December 2004 the Gladstone Economic & Industry Development Board in conjunction with Central Queensland University’s Process Engineering and Light Metal (PELM) Centre and the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute coordinated a by-product and value chain workshop to explore with local industry project opportunities focussing on sustainable and efficient industrial growth for existing and future industries in the Gladstone Region.
The well attended half day workshop included Board, industry and government representatives from the Comalco Alumina Refinery, CS-Energy, the Gladstone Area Water Board, Boyne Smelters Limited, AusIndustry, the Gladstone State Development and Innovation Centre and the Queensland Government Environmental Protection Agency. Specialist workshop inputs were provided by Dr Glen Corder who is coordinating a regional synergies project for the Gladstone Area Industry Network (GAIN) and Dr Albena Bossilkov who is coordinating a similar project in the Kwinana
The workshop participants explored by-product synergy for industries in the Gladstone Region and identified some specific value chain opportunities that align with the Board’s investment attraction targets in light metals, resource processing and chemical industries. These included alternative fuels from waste products, the potential for local production of caustic soda as a key input to the alumina refining industry, other chemicals and fertiliser manufacture, carbon calcining and the potential for future production of a range of industrial gases. Further value adding in the coal supply chain was a topic identified worthy of additional research.
In conjunction with the workshop partners the Board will continue to follow up the identified opportunities during 2005 in line with its corporate plan and commitment to investment attraction and project facilitation for the Gladstone Region.
Further information about Gladstone Economic and Industry Development Board can be found at www.gladstoneindustry.org.au
