Crushing Blow to Local Economy
The largest down stream agricultural investment in Australia since 2005 is underway at Bomen's Business Park. ROBE's super sized equipment has arrived, having been manufactured in Mumbai, India and shipped to the Port of Adelaide then by road to Bomen. The Port of Adelaide was chosen because the road leg proved to have less height restrictions on route.
Riverina Oils and Bio Energy is an oilseed crushing plant and is certain to enhance the region's agricultural sector. This ambitious undertaking will ultimately process 100,000 tonnes/annum of canola and safflower seed to produce table oil for domestic and international consumption.
The first equipment delivery included a cooker, extractor and toaster, while these names maybe familiar to us, the scale and size will not as they process hundreds of tonnes of cereal grain/day. Manoeuvrings on site proved difficult even on this large site of 40 hectares as cranes and dogmen worked together to place each item.
In terms of investment, the Stage One project cost is $63 million (which includes $45 million of project construction costs as well as $18 million of working capital). Annual revenues generated at the full oilseed crushing and refining capacity are expected to exceed $125 million. The multiplier effects of the project include:
- Up to 250 construction jobs between May 2010 and October 2011
- 65 direct jobs in Stage One and up to 100 direct jobs once Stage Two is complete, in addition to significant indirect job creation
- Over $20 million to the Riverina region through capital purchases and project construction expenditure
- Up to of 75,000 hectares under crop in the Riverina region alone, providing farmers with an alternative cropping option
- Export of oil to India and Asia, with potential to generate revenues up to $100 million plus in the first 5 years of production
- Opportunity for the project to act as a catalyst for further development around its location, including the facilitation of rail development
- The project's status as the only oilseed crushing (solvent extraction) and refining plant on the same site in the country.
ROBE is destined to be a major contributor to the agricultural industry and Wagga Wagga's economy.
This type of catalytic investment in new manufacturing techniques is well suited to Bomen. National and international companies are forming their own conclusions about where they will locate and the Bomen Business Park is ticking all the right boxes.
Photo:The Cylindrical plant is the Desolventiser / Dryer and Pre-conditioner & Cooker. They will ultimately be placed vertically in the extraction and seed preparation buildings, each standing approximately 12m in height with a diameter of 5.5m when assembled.
Oil Seeds enter the pre-conditioner for heating and exit to the flaking machine which allows moisture release from the seeds. The flakes are returned to the cooker for heating to approximately 100deg C to remove further moisture, and to soften the product prior to pre-pressing operation where 60% of the seed oil is removed to the refinery.
