Leaf completes the prefeasibility study on a commercial biorefinery in Queensland
Type of post: NEWS.
Leaf
Resources Limited has recently announced advancements in its two main projects.
Below, the highlights are summarized.
Source: ASX (Australian Securities Exchange).
Related posts:
- “Leaf
and B&G sign MOU for the feedstock supply of the first Malaysian Glycell
biorefinery”, 16/7/2018.
Completion of a prefeasibility
study on a second-generation commercial biorefinery in Queensland
- The study assessed plans to develop a biomanufacturing
hub in a sugarcane producing region of Queensland. The proposed biorefinery
would use Leaf’s patented Glycell™ technology to speed up and reduce the cost
of converting plant waste, in this case sugarcane fibre, into sustainable
chemicals, biofuels and bioplastics.
- There are currently 12 million bone dry tons
of available biomass in Queensland (more than 90% from the sugar cane industry and
80% produced in North Queensland). There is enough biomass to facilitate
several lignocellulosic initiatives.
- The company explored Queensland-based locations
for the proposed biorefinery and focused on one brownfield site and one greenfield
site in the North Queensland region. Both sites present similar risks and
opportunities and would notably benefit from cane cleaning technology due to
lower production costs and greater yield of sugar per hectare.
- The project showed profitability was achievable
for material that currently has no value in the sugar cane industry. Given that there is minimal appetite for
investment in the sugar industry in Australia due to international competition,
the project opens the door for a renewed investment with value adding across
the entire chain of the sugar industry.
- Alex Baker (CEO of Leaf Resources) said the
study highlighted enough potential for Leaf to move forward on next steps.
- Leaf was able to embark on validation works
and the prefeasibility study due to funding from the Queensland Government’s
Biofutures Acceleration Program.
Figure 1. Sugarcane trash
Malaysian Government
continues to support Leaf biorefinery project in Johor Province
- The Malaysian Investment Development Authority
(MIDA) has continued to show strong interest in the project which progresses
through its final engineering feasibility study (FEL3). Leaf
Malaysia was granted a manufacturing licence by MIDA in October 2018 for the
production of fermentable sugars (hexose and pentose), refined glycerol and lignin.
- Malaysia’s National Innovation Agency, Agensi
Inovasi Malaysia (AIM), has also continued to express strong support for the
project.
- Leaf works with MIDA and AIM to identify and
secure additional assistance, including the establishment of a taskforce to
assist with implementation of the project and coordination of other government
agencies.
