$4.3 billion Perdaman project given boost with $255 million from Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility

A multi-billion dollar project tipped to generate about two million tonnes of urea per year near Karratha has been given a $255 million boost. The proposed $4.3 billion Perdaman urea project, 20km north west of Karratha within the Burrup Strategic Industrial Area, was granted $255m in two loans from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility on February 3. The loans will go towards upgrades to common-user infrastructure that will support the proposed urea project. Through the loans the Pilbara Ports Authority will receive $160 million for a new multi-user wharf and facilities at the Port of Dampier to facilitate exports and $95 million will go to the Water Corporation for the expansion of the Burrup seawater supply and brine disposal scheme. NAIF’s acting chief executive Amanda Copping said NAIF was pleased the loans would support the diversification of the Pilbara economy by significantly boosting domestic manufacturing and creating thousands of regional jobs. Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said the Perdaman plant is expected to provide an $8.5 billion public benefit to Northern Australia. “This investment is great news for Karratha, Dampier and the broader region, this project will support a peak of 2490 construction and operations jobs over its 40-year life,” she said. Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the project would deliver about 200 local jobs. Perdaman was granted approval by the Environmental Protection Authority in September subject to 16 recommendations including air emissions having no impact on the weathering of rock art within Murujuga beyond natural rates.