The Project can appear complex when viewed initially.
If it is considered by breaking it down into its component parts, technical
risk can be seen to be less significant as the project becomes the linking
of established technologies – essentially there is nothing being done
which hasn’t been commercialised for over 60 years in response to changing
market conditions.
In this case the market drivers are sustained higher oil prices and a
positive price outlook, increased demand for diesel both regionally and
locally and an immediate need for new base load power in South Australia
to match increased domestic and mining demand.
The Project is best summarized as a conventional open cut coal mine followed by processing and an oil refinery/petro-chemicals plant with efficient integrated combined cycle electricity generation which captures and uses waste heat.