Over the past four years Syngas has developed specialist expertise in Brown Coal/Lignite value adding processes through preliminary engineering and design work completed for the Clinton Project in South Australia. This expertise has applicability to other lignites and coals. Syngas has developed a project to concept level in the La Trobe Valley and is now seeking to progress this project forward in a staged, practical, fully funded manner.
Syngas’ strategy in moving forward is:
1. To use proven at scale as operating reliably technology/equipment modules in its plant, to the greatest extent possible. For example:
· Siemens Fuel Gasification Technology GmbH & Co (Siemens) completed a Feasibility Engineering Study (FES) for Syngas based on the use of Siemens 500 MWe gasifier fed by Lignite in 2010. This gasifier design is understood to be successfully and reliably operating at a coal operation at Ninxgia in China, with orders for a further 30 new gasifiers understood to have been recently received.
· UOP LLC, part of Honeywell, completed gas clean up section preliminary engineering and wax and liquid clean up section engineering in 2010/2011 based on the Siemens work for Syngas.
· Rentech Inc, completed liquid synthesis (Fischer-Tropsch) engineering in 2010.
· GE Energy provided initial input on gas turbines (under a memorandum of understanding between the companies).
· RWE is actively being engaged with by Syngas on coal drying.
2. Integration of these modern ‘clean coal’ technologies/equipment modules into flowsheets that match the specific coal deposits properties or characteristics.
Syngas has, based on the above, developed a fully integrated 3,500 barrel per day coal to liquid plant design for producing syncrude (low sulphur oil refinery feedstock).
In addition to syncrude production, this plant has the potential to produce 100 MW net of power to the National Electricity Market at 20% lower carbon footprint than existing La Trobe Valley power producers.
3. In the first instance, secure feedstock through a coal offtake agreement with an existing La Trobe Valley mine operator (negotiations for this are underway) as the basis for Syngas’ demonstration/first commercial scale above ground coal to liquid plant to proceed.
4. To partner/work with an entity seeking to establish a long term business in the La Trobe Valley, through the forthcoming tender process (see below). With Syngas providing CTL IP, local knowledge, project management and an operating base.
The Victorian government recently announced that developing projects in the La Trobe Valley based on the extensive (world scale) coal/lignite deposits in the valley is vitally important to the future economic development of the state:-
Links to new articles covering the Victorian government’s position follow:-
Once Syngas has established a partnership, clear staged funding arrangements/access and certain other commercial arrangements are in place for moving forward, a stakeholder relations program will commence.
Syngas will establish what is important to project stakeholders and a basis for working with stakeholders moving forward.
In the past Syngas has successfully worked with the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (ACCSR) to develop stakeholder relations strategies and programs including communication plans.
Details on ACCSR are available from the company’s website the link is provided below.
