New
research from Deloitte Access Economics, commissioned by the Queensland
University of Technology, claims that over 6,000 jobs and billions in output
could be created through harnessing agricultural waste for industrial use.
The
report, Economic impact of a future tropical biorefinery industry in Queensland, points
to the state’s comparative advantages in its existing agricultural industry and
climate. It suggests there is enough existing biomass being produced to support
seven refineries in the state.
In
net present value, the report says over $20 billion of plastics and fuels could be
made in this way over the next two decades.
“We’re talking
about almost anything that can be made from petrochemicals can also be made
from biomass,” the ABC quotes principal research scientist Ian
O’Hara as saying.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-22/queensland-biorefinery-potential-worth-billions/5761094
The
report cites the experience and investment in biomass by the chemicals industry
in Malaysia and Brazil.
In
Brazil, “Dow has already established a global-scale, 240,000 tpa ethanol plant
(2011), and, more
recently in a joint venture with Japan’s Mitsui, is planning on value-adding
that ethanol
by converting it to ethylene and polyethylene in a biopolymers facility, worth around
US$1.5 billion.”
O’Hara
said that commercialisation of biomass was something that was happening
already around the world.
“Queensland needs to get on the bandwagon and start to see
the opportunity unfurling here,” he said.
Image: http://www.qmeb.com.au/