Australia: Micro-LNG Plant Opens in Westbury

The Tasmanian Premier, Lara Giddings, today officially opened Australia’s first micro-liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Westbury.

Ms Giddings said the $150 million project, which is owned and operated by BOC Australia, is an innovative use of Tasmania’s energy infrastructure.

“The plant is an Australian first that converts natural gas to a liquefied form and delivers it to heavy duty trucks used by transport operators.

“LNG as a fuel source offers considerable advantages over conventional diesel fuel. It offers significant economic and environmental benefits and is a clean burning fuel that also has much lower levels of other pollutants.

“LNG as a fuel is particularly suited to heavy duty trucks which operate for long hours and over long distances.

“The opening of this plant will have flow-on benefits to the Tasmanian community as it should improve the competiveness of road-based transport infrastructure.”

Ms Giddings said the use of LNG as a fuel generates 25 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than diesel and will allow Tasmania to lower the transport sector’s carbon footprint.

“Natural gas is an indigenous fuel that is sourced from Australian resources. It offers security of supply compared to other liquid fuels which are predominantly imported,” she said.

In addition to BOC’s LNG manufacturing plant, a network of refuelling stations has been built by Tasmanian company LNG Refuellers Pty Ltd (LNGR).

These stations located at Burnie, Westbury, Rocherlea, Epping, Scottsdale and Bridgewater will allow operators of LNG-equipped, heavy duty trucks to have access to the fuel around the state.

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Source: media.tas.gov, February 17, 2011;