Region has a head start
THE venturers behind plans to build a battery factory employing 1000 people in Townsville say the region has all it needs to achieve the ambitious new- age manufacturing facility.
Representatives of the Boston Energy and Innovationled consortium have been in the city meeting Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, State Development Minister Anthony Lynham and Townsville City Council Mayor Jenny Hill and CEO Adele Young.
BEI director Corey Cooney said the group was investigating Townsville as the site of a facility because of its infrastructure, location and its forward- thinking council.
He said the group was considering several sites around the city capable of housing a facility with a footprint of about 20ha.
“Townsville has a proactive and forward- thinking council,” Mr Cooney said.
“It’s true that this is a project that could be picked up and moved to Adelaide, Perth or even Darwin, however, we have a lot of confidence in the future of North Queensland as a destination for new- age manufacturing.
“Townsville has an international airport, strategic location, extensive port facilities and essential infrastructure for this project.
“We are hopeful that with the support of the Queensland and Federal governments, this project can proceed.”
The consortium announced last month that it had signed an exclusive memorandum of understanding with the council to investigate the viability of building a 15 GwH battery manufacturing plant in the city.
Mr Cooney said they were involved in talks on the feasibility study.
“We have had a meeting with the Premier and we are here to advance our discussions with Townsville City Council,” he said.
“We are also meeting with Minister Lynham as part of a push to create ( a) new advanced manufacturing hub and smart technology and innovation base here in Townsville.
“We believe that a battery manufacturing plant is the anchor for that.”
The consortium includes Australian- listed company Magnis Resources, New York Securi- ties Exchange- listed Eastman Kodak and lithium- ion players C4V and C& D Assembly.
BEI is chaired by Australian businessman Bill Moss AO, a friend and mentor of Ms Young.
An advisory panel to the group includes lithium- ion battery inventor, Professor Stanley Whittingham, lithium- ion battery expert Dr Shailesh Upreti, former Aston Martin chairman Dr Ulrich Helmut Bez and metallurgical processing expert Dr Frank Houllis.
Mr Cooney said a plant supplying car, home energy or utility scale batteries could be operating by 2020.