Mackay Sugar has appointed local company G&S Engineering to erect the plant and major machinery for its $120 million Cogeneration Project.

 

Mackay Sugar CEO Quinton Hildebrand said that as part of the $14 million contract, G&S Engineering would install a high pressure boiler capable of powering a 37.25 megawatt (MW) turbine and producing renewable energy for the Mackay city electricity network.

 

Mr Hildebrand said the Mackay Sugar Racecourse Cogeneration Plant will be able to provide up to one-third of Mackay’s electricity needs by making use of bagasse – a fibre waste left over from crushing cane.

 

“By using this by-product for electricity production Mackay Sugar will help reduce our region’s greenhouse gas emissions by 200,000 tonnes (t) equivalent carbon dioxide (CO2e) each year, as well as add more value to the crops grown by our local farmers,” Mr Hildebrand said.

 

“Mackay Sugar will store bagasse on site to ensure the plant will operate year-round, supplying energy to the community and the Mackay Refinery even during the non-crush period.”

 

Preliminary site works were completed in May, including a new control system for Racecourse Mill’s Boiler No. 3 and the demolition of Boiler No. 1.

 

The next stage of the project will commence in August, with G&S Engineering to employ 55 people for 85,000 man hours of work in order to complete their activities by June 2012.

 

As well as erecting the plant, installing the boilers and turbine, G&S will provide all related piping and auxiliary equipment.

 

This work will be followed by the commissioning phase of the plant, which is due to start by end of 2012.