Chemical industry in Australia

Projects in Australia

chemXplore tracks 24 projects in Australia, of which 18 are active.

2 Announced / Concept 8 FEED / Pre-FID 3 FID / Sanctioned 2 Under Construction 3 Commissioning & Start-up

10 new construction, 6 expansion, and 2 revamp / retrofit.

Expected to start operating
2026
none
2027
2 projects
2028
1 project
2029
1 project
2030
3 projects
2031
1 project

9 of the active projects carry no start-up date yet.

What moved recently
  • 9 September 2026 Carbon Neutral Fuels BioNQ SAF Project, North Queensland · Announced / Concept
  • 7 September 2026 BHP Olympic Dam Block Cave Expansion · FEED / Pre-FID
  • September 2026 BHP Carrapateena Underground Expansion · FEED / Pre-FID
  • August 2026 Fortescue Christmas Creek Green Metal Project · Commissioning & Start-up
  • August 2026 SKY Renewables Project Lion SAF Facility, Burdekin · FEED / Pre-FID

Owners and developers: Viva Energy (3), BHP Group Limited (2), Australian Gold Reagents Pty Ltd (1), Carbon Neutral Fuels (1), Cleanaway Waste Management Limited (1), Coogee (1)

Investors: Coogee (2), BHP Group Limited (1), Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (1), Deutsche Bank AG (1), Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (1), Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (1)

Contractors, licensors, and offtakers are recorded on 13 of these 18 projects For subscribers

Targeting: Hydrogen (4), Sustainable Aviation Fuel (3), Ammonia (2), Copper (2), HVO (2), Carbon dioxide (1)

Follow these projects in chemXplore →

Latest Australian chemical industry news

2 October 2026
Carbon Neutral Fuels joins Bioenergy Australia to advance Queensland bioSAF

Joins the national bioenergy body and signs an MoU to explore bioSAF from captured sugarcane waste in Queensland; links to international scale-up pipeline.

28 September 2026
Bayer Lynkuet granted FDA Priority Review for VMS in women on endocrine therapy for HR+ breast cancer

FDA accepted the sNDA and granted Priority Review for Lynkuet to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms in women on endocrine therapy for HR+ breast cancer.

28 September 2026
OCI Global H1 2026 results and strategic progress

Net profit USD 1m; sold ammonia distribution and monetized Methanex; OCI Nitrogen impaired and facing margin pressure; held‑for‑sale net cash USD 1.05bn; NNS offer and Orascom deal progressing.

28 September 2026
BASF to present sustainable extraction, collagen repair and biopolymer research at IFSCC Congress 2026

At IFSCC Congress Sept 28–Oct 1 in Perth, teams present coconut‑water extraction increasing polyphenols, collagen‑hybridizing peptides that reduce damaged collagen, and bio‑based polysaccharide films for hydration.

28 September 2026
Fortescue and Metso produce first hot metal at Christmas Creek Green Metal Project

First hot metal produced at Christmas Creek pilot in the Pilbara using an electric DRI Smelting Furnace to test lower‑emission routes for Pilbara iron ore fines.

22 September 2026
Plug Power ships 1 MW GenEco electrolyzer to HWR Hydrogen in New Zealand

The 1 MW PEM electrolyzer will produce hydrogen for a refuelling station to supply dual‑fuel heavy trucks and help build South Island hydrogen infrastructure.

21 September 2026
BHP and China Baowu renew five-year steel decarbonisation MoU

Partnership will focus on modified blast furnaces, DRI and electric smelting demonstrations using Pilbara iron ore to lower steelmaking emissions.

10 September 2026
Worley advises ARENA on renewable hydrogen capital-cost reduction

Strategic advisory study identifies 24 capex-reduction levers and delivers a transparent, executive-ready capex model to guide decisions and improve commercial viability of renewable hydrogen.

9 September 2026
Carbon Neutral Fuels & Energy Estate sign MoU to explore sugarcane‑waste SAF in North Queensland

Explore SAF production from sugarcane agricultural waste, evaluating feedstock, site, pathway and offtake to support Australia’s fuel security and upcoming SAF mandate.

7 September 2026
BHP awards Worley EPCM and study contracts for Copper South Australia

Contracts cover study and EPCM work for potential Olympic Dam block cave and Carrapateena underground expansion; both projects are subject to BHP final investment decisions.