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KOORAGANG ISLAND

Operations

Strategically located at the entrance to the Hunter Valley, Orica Kooragang Island is an integral part of the company’s global operations and makes an important contribution to the local and broader Newcastle community. Kooragang Island's operations play a key role in the New South Wales economy, supplying critical products to the mining and infrastructure, agriculture, water supply, food, dairy and medical sectors.

Orica Kooragang Island is also a significant employer in the Newcastle area, with approximately 210 permanent employees and around 40 regular contractors. During plant shutdowns there are up to 150 additional employees on site.

The facility includes an ammonia plant, three nitric acid plants, two ammonium nitrate plants and a product dispatch facility. 

Ammonia plant

Kooragang Island’s ammonia plant uses natural gas (methane) to produce approximately 360,000 tonnes of ammonia (NH3) per annum. This ammonia is used in the manufacture of nitric acid and ammonium nitrate, and is also sold for use as an agricultural fertiliser and a refrigerant. 

Ammonium nitrate plants

Approximately 400,000 tonnes of industrial grade ammonium nitrate is produced per annum onsite for use in the manufacture of explosives for the mining and quarry industries.  

Nitric acid plants

Three nitric acid plants operate at the Kooragang Island site, converting ammonia into approximately 330,000 tonnes of nitric acid per annum. 

Related content

History of Kooragang Island operations
Kooragang Island site projects

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