Operations
Orica Yarwun is located 9km west of Gladstone, Queensland.
The facility manufactures products which are used in Queensland mining operations as well as in the national and international mining industries.
Orica has operated at Yarwun for more than 30 years. We are committed to the health and safety of our employees and minimising the impact of our activities on the community and the environment.
Reid Road Facility
At our facility at Reid Road, Orica Yarwun operates the following plants:
- Three nitric acid plants
- Two ammonium nitrate plants
- Ammonium nitrate emulsion phase plant
- Sodium cyanide plant sectors.
Fisherman's Landing
Orica Yarwun operates two raw material import facilities at the Fisherman's Landing port facility located approximately 5km north of the main site. These facilities incorporate ammonia and caustic soda unloading, storage and delivery systems to the site.
Onsite manufacturing
A number of products are manufactured at our Reid Road facility, including:
Nitric acid
Nitric acid is produced by reacting vapourised ammonia with compressed air in the presence of a catalyst. The oxides created in the process are then combined with water to produce nitric acid. Nitric acid is used only in the production of ammonium nitrate on site.
Ammonium nitrate
Ammonium nitrate is manufactured through the reaction of ammonia and nitric acid. Both solid and liquid ammonium nitrate products are produced onsite. Ammonium nitrate is dispatched from the site for use in the manufacture of explosives for the mining and quarry industries.
Sodium cyanide
Hydrogen cyanide is produced by reacting ammonia, natural gas and pre-heated process air. The hydrogen cyanide is then absorbed with caustic soda to form sodium cyanide liquor. Sodium cyanide is used to extract gold in the precious metal mining