A development assessment panel has approved an expansion of Coogee’s chlori-alkali plant that would more than double production at the Kemerton site.
The Western Australian chemicals manufacturer is planning a $40 million upgrade to the plant, in a bid to increase production to 115 tonnes per day, up from 55t/day.
This will put the Marriott Road facility, 25 kilometres south-west of Harvey, on par with Coogee’s other plants in Kwinana and Queensland.
The Shire of Harvey last month recommended the proposal be approved by a joint development assessment panel, on the condition it minimises its impact to the surrounding area.
At a regional JDAP meeting today, the Shire of Harvey agreed to extend the timeframe of the development approval from two years to four.
The application was approved unanimously at the JDAP.
Coogee’s facility is within the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area and 1km south of Abermarle’s lithium plant, currently under construction.
The plant facilitates an electrolysis process that produces chlorine and sodium hydroxide for use in further industrial processes.
It was built in 1987 to service the adjacent Tronox titanium dioxide manufacturing plant and produces chlorine for Tronox.
The plant’s owners, Tronox Pigment Bunbury Ltd and Development WA, submitted a development application to the Shire of Harvey on Coogee’s behalf.
The proposal includes a plan to expand its chlorine plant by including a new electrolysis system, new brine purification system, a new cell room and associated systems, and a new chlorine gas export system.
The expansion will require 4.73 hectares of native vegetation to be cleared, which will require a Department of Water and Environmental Regulation permit.
It is also subject to works approval from DWER.
Coogee is Australia’s second largest manufacturer of chlori-alkali products, with plants in Kwinana, Wellesley and Lytton in Queensland.
The Kwinana-based company, which specialises in chemical manufacturing, bulk liquid storage and transporting dangerous goods, also operates a titanium alloy powder plant and alumina and sulphur facility in Kwinana.
Former peak chemistry body Chemicals Australia director Tim Martin is Coogee’s executive chairman and former Fletcher Building general manager Grant Lukey is chief executive.
