McI Wins $14.6 Grant from Commonwealth

MCI WINS $14.6M GRANT FROM COMMONWEALTH

In late 2020, the Australasian (iron & steel) Slag Association participated in a small- scale project initialised by the Mineral Carbonation International (MCi). This project determined the potential of reducing CO2 emissions in various materials, including concrete and cement. Since then, ASA has maintained a close relationship with MCi and has supported them in various ventures.

On the 8th of June 2021, it was announced by The Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor that MCi would receive substantial funding towards a new project of a similar nature to the endeavour ASA was previously involved in. This comes after the Australian Government awarded $50 million to theCarbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) Development Fundin efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in Australia. Only a total of 6 companies were awarded a share in this development, and Australian Cleantech developer MCI was one of the few. Awarded with one of the largest individual grants, MCi’s $14.6 million grant for the project ‘Australian CCU Flagship: Demonstrating decarbonisation for heavy industry' will accelerate MCi’s technology that transforms CO2 emissions into valuable advanced manufacturing and consumer products.

The Grant will be used to build the ‘MCi Carbon Plant,' a world-first mineral carbonation mobile demonstration plant in Newcastle, Australia. The MCi Carbon Plant will be established on Orica's Kooragang Island and will have direct access to approximately 250,000 tonnes of captured CO2 from Orica's manufacturing operations. It is expected to be completed in two years, with the scale of the plant to be determined once the final pilot studies and engineering designs are finalised by the conclusion of 2021.