Port of StocktonPort of South LouisianaViganVan AalstBühler GmbHCimbria
  • Geneva Dry
  • Sailors Society
  • TMS Awards 2023
  • Bühler GmbH
  • Telestack
  • TBA Group

Port of Townsville fertilizer boost

Port of Townsville fertilizer boost

(Posted on 28/05/19)

Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk was at the Port of Townsville last week announcing prescribed project status for an Agripower Australia Ltd processing plant to be built in Yabulu near Townsville.

Agripower will use the Port of Townsville to export fertiliser to the world, sourcing it from one of the world's largest deposits of amorphous silica at Greenvale.

Eventually, Agripower expects to produce 1-million tonnes of fertiliser annually from the facility.

Palaszczuk said Agripower Australia Limited’s $663 million Fertiliser Expansion Project could create 490 jobs during construction and 470 ongoing operational jobs.

“Agripower’s amorphous silica is sourced from what is believed to be the world’s largest deposit of the mineral near Greenvale,” the Premier said.

“Agripower believes that a two billion tonne deposit could create a mine life of 200 years.”

The Premier said Agripower had recently completed construction of a processing facility near Charters Towers able to produce 240,000 tonne of fertiliser per year.

That facility is expected to become operational next month, with the first shipment of 5000 tonnes to be exported to Indian from the Port of Townsville in July.

“The completion of the processing facility is good news for Charters Towers and North Queensland,” the Premier said.

“But I am pleased to see Agripower planning for the future demand for this Queensland resource by looking to develop a $663 million processing facility near Yabulu.

“Each year, Agripower expects to produce one million tonnes of fertiliser from the new facility, to be exported to the world – and to do that with a project life of up to 200 years.

“This can mean local jobs for local skilled workers for generations to come.”

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said prescribed project status enables Queensland’s independent Coordinator-General to assist the proponent to progress the project efficiently by ensuring timely approvals across all agencies.

He said the Office of the Coordinator-General would work with the proponent to identify and navigate the most efficient approvals pathway for the project.

The project is the latest in recent activity from the Palaszczuk Government which has also included:

  • Approval for the $1 billion Olive Downs Metallurgical Coal Mine, supporting 1500 jobs
  • Coordinated status for the $1 billion Winchester South Metallurgical Coal Mine, supporting 950 jobs
  • Approval of nine new mining leases for the Resolute Mine near Ravenswood, supporting 380 jobs

Since January 2015, 199,000 jobs have been created in Queensland.

More than 1000 jobs have been created in the Townsville region in the past year.

Agripower has been undertaking open pit mining at the mine site near Greenvale since 2012 where it processes amorphous silica at their Charters Towers processing facility.

Latest News

New customs declaration process launched in Belgium

(Posted on 07/05/25)

Inbound Release Platform (IRP) has been operating since 1 April 2025. This innovative solution, which... Read more


Kale to develop Oman’s national port communication system

(Posted on 07/05/25)

Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale), along with its local partner Novel Muscat, has been awarded the contract... Read more


Estonian-German ports strengthen bilateral relations

(Posted on 01/05/25)

Participants at the first German-Estonian Port Days, have demonstrated the impressive way in which bilateral... Read more


Teesport Offshore Gateway - a multi-million pound investment in the River Tees

(Posted on 29/04/25)

One of the UK’s major port groups, PD Ports has announced its ambition to develop one of the UK... Read more


Port of Amsterdam achieves CO? reduction target

(Posted on 28/04/25)

Port of Amsterdam has achieved its CO? reduction target. The Port of Amsterdam aimed to reduce its corporate... Read more


NSBT celebrates launch of new third berth in Freetown

(Posted on 22/04/25)

Nectar Sierra Leone Bulk Terminal (NSBT) is celebrating the operational launch of a new third berth... Read more


Greenhouse gas emissions in port of Rotterdam down by 8%

(Posted on 17/04/25)

Greenhouse gas emissions at companies in the port decreased by 1.7 Mton (8%) in 2024 compared to 2023... Read more


Raw materials delivered to British Steel through Immingham

(Posted on 15/04/25)

Following the UK government’s passing of an emergency law to take control of British Steel, vital... Read more


Rotterdam takes important step in making shipping more sustainable

(Posted on 15/04/25)

Trammo, OCI and James Fisher Fendercare have successfully conducted an ammonia bunkering pilot between... Read more


Bulgarian port’s first order for new Konecranes Gottwald MHCs

(Posted on 03/04/25)

BMF Port Burgas AD (BMF), one of Bulgaria’s largest port operators, has ordered two Generation... Read more


TBA GroupTMS Awards 2023Sailors SocietyTelestackGeneva Dry
  • Van Aalst
  • Vigan
  • Port of Stockton

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping