Dyno Nobel Moranbah N2O Abatement Project

The Dyno Nobel Moranbah N2O Abatement Project (ERF171724) is an industrial emissions reduction project located at the Dyno Nobel ammonium nitrate facility, approximately 4.5km north-west of the town of Moranbah in Central Queensland. Registered in March 2022, the project operates within the Bowen Basin, a region heavily characterized by coal mining operations and cattle grazing. The facility sits in a semi-arid to sub-tropical climate zone, receiving an average annual rainfall of approximately 600mm, primarily during the summer months. The local terrain typically features cracking clay soils (vertosols) common to the Brigalow Belt, alongside areas of sandy loam.

This project utilizes the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Industrial and Commercial Emissions Reduction) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology credits the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes by comparing actual emissions against a historical baseline. Specifically, this project involves the installation of secondary abatement technology, catalysts designed to break down nitrous oxide (N2O) generated during the production of nitric acid.

A key feature of this initiative is its use of the EnviNOx® technology supplied by thyssenkrupp Uhde. By installing this catalyst system, the project converts N2O (a potent greenhouse gas) into naturally occurring nitrogen and oxygen. Public reports indicate the project is expected to abate approximately 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) per year, which the proponent equates to removing roughly 50,000 cars from the road annually. The project was officially commissioned and opened in April 2024, marking a significant step in the decarbonization of the explosives manufacturing sector.