In August 2018, leading mining and infrastructure solutions provider Orica committed to reducing particulate matter emitted by its Kooragang Island ammonium nitrate plant, aligning its efforts with community needs and regulatory expectations. To support this commitment, Jord proudly partnered with Orica to implement a solution aimed at improving air quality and reducing particulate emissions, with recently released results indicating that the project results are consistent with performance expectations of achieving greater than 95 per cent particulate removal, which based on emissions testing since operation of the scrubber commenced in September 2024 has resulted in emissions of  less than 1-2 mg of total particulate emissions per Nm3.

Located just three kilometres from the Newcastle central business district just outside of Sydney, in New South Wales Australia, the Kooragang Island plant, with its iconic 52-meter prill tower, had been a significant feature of the city’s skyline for decades. Jord’s role in the project was to design suitable technology that would enhance air quality by removing particulate matter from the exhaust gas emitted by the prill tower.

Jord supported this project from start to finish via early engagement in concept studies, through to the detailed design, supply, commissioning and process optimisation of the innovative Irrigated Fibre-Bed Scrubbing (IFS) technology to retrofit a scrubber system to the existing prill tower. Worley, a global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts, completed the existing prill tower design modifications and ducting, as well as the civil foundations for the new plant design. This project was a truly collaborative effort working closely with the teams at Orica, Jord International, Worley, and installation contractor Alfabs Services Pty Ltd.

“Jord was an excellent partner in the design, supply and implementation of the emission abatement system installed on the prill tower at our Kooragang Island site,” said Kooragang Island Manufacturing Centre Manager, Viney Kumar. “Jord provided solid technical and engineering support throughout the project leading to a system that met the demanding expectations of the project.”

This best practice abatement technology reduces AN particulate emissions, including fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, by approximately 95 per cent. The captured emissions are then returned to the manufacturing process to produce valuable products, reinforcing both Orica’s and Jord’s commitment to environmental sustainability and community well-being.

Kevin Barber, General Manager Resources at Jord International, said, “We were proud to be part of this crucial project that directly benefited the local community by improving air quality around the Kooragang Island plant. Our team ensured the retrofit was carried out with the highest standards of environmental responsibility.”