EMM Engaged for Major Queensland Biorefinery Project

 Australian-based global technology pioneer, Licella, has appointed EMM to lead environmental permitting and regulatory approvals support for Project Swift - a proposed biorefinery facility in the Bundaberg region of Central Queensland.

 

A first for Queensland

Project Swift will utilise Licella's proprietary Cat-HTR™ hydrothermal liquefaction technology to convert sugarcane residues like bagasse into low-carbon liquid fuels. Located adjacent to the Isis Central Sugar Mill in the Bundaberg region, the facility is expected to produce up to 60 million litres of low-carbon fuels annually, including approximately 40 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel.

The project represents a scale-up from Licella's recently completed commercial scale Cat-HTR™ Biomass to Biofuels facility in British Columbia, Canada, and is backed by an $8 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Project Swift has the potential to create 300 construction jobs and 100 ongoing operational roles, boosting regional employment while adding value to the sugar industry and helping secure domestic fuel supply chains.

EMM’s involvement to support smart development and regional growth

EMM’s work is supporting the project’s detailed feasibility and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase, ahead of a Final Investment Decision in late 2026. EMM will work with Licella to navigate the regulatory pathway, bringing our expertise in environmental assessment and approvals on large-scale novel technology projects.

EMM’s Project Manager Dylan Falconer added:

“We are proud to be supporting Licella on this significant project. This initiative demonstrates the power of innovative technology, strong regional partnerships and forward-thinking energy policy. Our focus is on enabling sustainable projects like this to progress efficiently though the regulatory landscape”.

Aligning with national momentum

This announcement comes as the Queensland Government launches a Parliamentary Inquiry into the potential of sugarcane-based biofuels, a key step in unlocking regional Australia’s role in producing the fuels of the future.

EMM is excited to support Licella in delivering this significant step forward for Australia’s low-carbon energy landscape.

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