CSBP produces carbon dioxide as a by-product of ammonia production. In the early 2000’s CSBP recognised that there was potential to market this carbon dioxide, with a purity of 98%, to customers for a variety of hospitality, scientific and industrial applications.

Since then we have been selling our carbon dioxide, converting what would otherwise be a waste product.

Circular economy uses of carbon dioxide
About 45,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide produced by our ammonia plants is sold to companies like BOC and Air Liquide where they are then further purified and used as food grade quality gases in salad bags and beverage carbonation. Our carbon dioxide is also piped directly to Alcoa where waste bauxite (red mud) residue is carbonated to reduce its alkalinity. This process sequesters carbon dioxide within the waste material, has potential to render the material useful as a soil amendment in improving pH and enables easier storage.

CSBP are investigating further value-add products, applications and new markets that turn its ‘waste’ carbon dioxide into an opportunity. This will enable diversification of its revenue streams whilst reducing its carbon impact, supporting both the sustainable longevity of the business and our environment.

The project
Work commenced on a new roundabout, road and truck parking area at CSBP in late August 2019. It was identified that the ground level would need to be raised to enable the construction of the road, requiring 7,000 m3 of clean fill material (conditioned sand). CSBP instructed the contractor to halt import of this material and instead utilise our existing clean fill stockpiled on site.

100 native grass trees and other flora had to be relocated and removed respectively as part of the construction works.

Using stockpiled material
CSBP staff identified a stockpile of clean fill accumulated on site 20 years ago when material was excavated as part of construction of our AN1 and 2 plants. The material was tested and confirmed to be free of contaminants, of high quality and suitable as clean fill. This circumvented the need for purchasing material from a supplier. The ingenuity of this solution enabled savings of approximately $450,000 K of transport and disposal costs and $40,000 worth of direct costs.

Recycling old material
The unusable old road material was transported to a road recycling company to be processed into material suitable for new road construction. This disposal path provides CSBP with over 30% in savings in comparison to landfill disposal. The remaining stockpiles of profiled asphalt and uncontaminated clean fill material removed as part of these construction works will be repurposed on site as the need arises in the future.

Replanting 100 native grass trees
CSBP committed to relocate the 100 native grass displaced and currently under their care as part of the construction works.

The non-native flora removed was processed by a chipper into mulch and has been stockpiled for future use.