QUEENSLAND Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has welcomed the announcement by industrial manufacturer Incitec Pivot that it has secured the continued operation of its chemical plant near the Port of Brisbane.
According to the Premier, the deal is thanks to the Queensland government’s domestic gas policy.
The three-year gas supply agreement supports an investment of more than $100m by Incitec Pivot in major plant maintenance during the next three years.
The Premier travelled to the Gibson Island plant where she was met by Incitec Pivot workers and managing director and chief executive Jeanne Johns.
“We have the resources, we have the ports, we have the gas and we have the willingness to work with industry to find innovative solutions for their businesses,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Natural Resources minister Dr Anthony Lynham said Queensland’s move to allocate gas tenements for manufacturing was an important extension of the government’s domestic-market gas policy.
“We know that all businesses crave certainty when it comes to planning for future investment,” Dr Lynham said.
“Incitec Pivot’s three-year deal with APLNG provides them with that certainty to plan for the future.
“APLNG’s joint venture partner Armour Energy is one of four companies to be awarded domestic-use only tenders since September 2018.”
Incitec Pivot managing director and CEO Jeanne Johns said securing this gas supply agreement and other commercial arrangements supported Incitec Pivot’s customers, suppliers and shareholders.
“We are grateful for the support of the Queensland Government, particularly Premier AnnastaciaPalaszczuk and her Government’s domestic-only gas policy initiative to support local manufacturing businesses and jobs,” Ms Johns said.
“The new supply agreement demonstrates the benefits of the Queensland Government’s domestic only gas policy initiative in supporting local manufacturing businesses and jobs in Queensland.”
Incitec Pivot’s Gibson Island plant uses gas as a feedstock to produce industrial chemicals and fertilisers, distributing to more than 4000 cotton, sugarcane and sorghum farmers.
