The Queensland government has invested a further $1.52 million in seed funding to support two new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) proposals through its Industry Partnership Program (IPP).
The funding will support Energreen’s multi-seed crunching and processing facility at Yamala in the Central Queensland Inland Port at Emerald and feasibility studies for both Wagner Sustainable Fuels and Liquid Power to develop the case for investment in their own SAF proposals.
Energreen’s facility, when complete, will have the capacity to process 70,000 tonnes a year with a long-term vision for Pongamia oil – a potential SAF feedstock.
The new facility is set to create 60 direct new jobs with added supply chain roles.
The SAF industry is projected to boom over the next decade to be worth $3 billion annually by 2030, and support up to 15,600 jobs by 2050, most of which will be in regional areas.
Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace believes the continued investment in SAF is helping future-proof Queensland’s industrial sector.
“Growing our SAF industry will not only contribute to decarbonisation targets, but it will also create more good jobs, especially in Queensland’s regions,” Grace says.
“We are well on the way to establishing Queensland as a green jet fuel hub for the Asia-Pacific region.
“Through IPP we supported Jet Zero Australia with $760,000 for a feasibility study, who have since leveraged that support to attract significant investment from partners like Qantas, Airbus Industries, and Japanese industrial giant Idemitsu Kosan.
“Jet Zero has now announced their intention to establish a SAF processing facility in the Townsville region.”
IPP funding has now reached $415.5 million with a focus on supporting growing priority industries, strengthening local supply chains, encouraging collaboration between all levels of government and industry and leveraging private sector investment.
Energreen Director Gary Seaton says the new funding will help add new life Queensland’s oil seed industry.
“Energreen’s new multi oilseed crushing facility will process oilseeds for the dual purposes of producing edible oils and bio-fuel feedstock,” Seaton says.
“Energreen is working closely with local farmers and plant breeders to rejuvenate the oilseeds industry in Queensland. These oilseeds include cottonseed, sunflower seed, soybeans, and canola seeds.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable energy solutions in the food and feed industry, as well as in sustainable bio-fuel feedstock production systems, to build domestic capacity in Australia.”
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