ONE of the world’s leading companies in the treatment of mercury-contaminated waste, BMT Mercury Technology, has announced plans to build a plant in Kwinana to service the oil and gas industry.
BMT general manager Oceania Karen Boyce said a number of its existing multinational oil and gas clients had requested BMT’s expansion to Australia.
“The safe treatment of mercury which is brought to the surface during field development in the oil and gas sector is critical to the environmental sustainability of this vital industry,” she said.
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READ NOW“There are no treatment facilities in Australia so this by-product has either been sitting in temporary storage or shipped across the world for treatment as industry has tried to find a domestic solution.
“Now BMT will be able to provide a much safer solution.”
BMT estimates about 1000 tonnes of mercury contaminated waste would be treated every year.
“We are close to finalising a joint venture to build its facility in Kwinana,” Ms Boyce said.
Construction is set to commence in mid-2017 and conclude in mid-2018.
BMT expects 30 people will be required during the construction of the facility.
Once in operation, eight people will be employed in operations and administration to run the plant.
Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said the proposal had not yet been brought to the City for consideration.
“If and when this time comes we would work closely with the applicant and the State Government to assess the merits of the proposal,” Cr Adams said.
“Naturally the City is pleased that the Kwinana Industrial Area (KIA) has attracted a significant investor however the application still needs to go through the various local and state planning and environmental approvals before it could proceed.”
Kwinana Industries Council director Chris Oughton welcomed BMT’s announcement.
“The KIA is the world’s best example of industries exchanging products and wastes to incorporate into their processes,” Mr Oughton said.
“BMT adds to this and the more of this that happens the better off the whole industrial area becomes.
“New entrants signal to the world that the KIA is a good place to set up new industries.”
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