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19 hours ago 2 min read
Australian clean technology firm Mineral Carbonation International (MCi) has started compound production at its 10,000 tonnes per annum demonstration carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) plant on Kooragang Island in Newcastle, New South Wales.
The Myrtle demonstration plant is designed to capture 2,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year from global chemical producer Orica’s nearby ammonia manufacturing facility, providing an industrial CO2 feedstock for downstream mineralisation.
The captured CO2 will be converted into magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, and amorphous silica, which are compounds used in concrete, plasterboard, glass and paper.
These compounds can be used in building, manufacturing, and agricultural applications and will support domestic decarbonisation efforts and serve as industrial feedstocks across construction and manufacturing supply chains.
Chris Bowen, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, said, “Taking [CO2] from industrial production and turning it into materials for homes, buildings and manufacturing is exactly the kind of practical, Australian-made technology we should be backing.”
In 2024, MCi Carbon received A$20.5m ($14.5m) through the Australian government’s programme, which granted seven projects A$92 ($65m) to decarbonise hard-to-abate industrial processes.
The CCT closed the second round of funding in May 2026, providing a further A$46m ($32.6m) in funding.
The Myrtle demonstration plant supports the Australian government’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 62-70% below 2005 levels by 2035.
