Stories from Gladstone · Australia

Australia faces challenges with petroleum self-reliance due to the closure of domestic refineries. Current storage relies heavily on refined petroleum extracted from other countries. A proposed $11 billion refinery project in Gladstone is under consideration to address these energy security concerns. The discussion includes the impact of increased Australian oil extraction and refinery scale on diesel and petroleum storage capacity. There is a note that subsidized domestic products may remain more expensive than international market values. Increasing supply is viewed as the primary method to address high costs for consumers. The government aims to prioritize Australian sovereignty regarding fuel availability despite potential economic premiums.

Elements Green plans to construct a 700 megawatt solar farm south of Gladstone, Australia. The project includes a battery energy storage system known as the Urimbular Hybrid. A legal challenge regarding the approval of the solar farm is scheduled for the planning and environment court today. The project originally received development approval in 2018 but was due to lapse in August. The company has requested a four-year extension for the development.