History Of Australia Chlorine Industry
Chlorine has been commercially produced in Australia since the 1960s. One of the earliest large scale chlorine plants was established near Brisbane by Queensland Chloride Pty Ltd in 1962. This plant produced chlorine via the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution. Other early chlorine plants were set up near Adelaide and Newcastle in the following decades to meet the growing demand for chlorine in various industrial applications.
By the 1980s, annual Australia Chlorine production capacity in Australia had reached around 300,000 tonnes. The three largest producers at the time were Queensland Chloride, Exxon Chemical and ICI Australia. Most production still took place via the mercury cell and diaphragm cell processes that involve electrolysis of brine to produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide.
Modern Production Methods
Today, the membrane cell process has become the dominant technology used for chlorine production in Australia. This process was developed in the 1960s and provides greater energy efficiency compared to older electrolysis methods. It has gradually replaced mercury cell and diaphragm cell plants across the country since the 1990s due to economic and environmental advantages.
The two largest modern chlorine production facilities are located near Brisbane and Melbourne. Orica operates the Yarwun plant north of Brisbane which has an annual chlorine capacity of around 240,000 tonnes. This plant uses membrane cell technology to produce chlorine from brine extracted from underground reservoirs.
The Dandenong South plant south of Melbourne is owned by Coogee Chemicals. It has a chlorine production capacity of 200,000 tonnes per year and also relies on membrane cell electrolysis of brine. Both these mega-plants supply most of Australia’s chlorine demand and are integrated with chlor-alkali derivative manufacturing.
Minor Chlorine Production
In addition to the large integrated sites, some minor chlorine production still occurs at other industrial locations. One example is the Sibelco Anderson plant near Bunbury in Western Australia. This plant produces around 15,000 tonnes of chlorine annually as a byproduct of titanium dioxide manufacturing. The chlorine is used primarily for on-site chlorination of organics and wastewater treatment.
A second smaller chlorine production facility is in Kwinana, also located in Western Australia. Operated by Wesfarmers Chemicals, it has a capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year produced via membrane cell technology. The chlorine is both consumed internally and distributed to other Wesfarmers plants throughout the state.
While Australia has abundant salt reserves that could support more chlorine production, the two major sites currently meet domestic demand cost effectively. Any new projects would need to demonstrate clear economic advantages over existing supply sources.
Major End Uses
Chlorine finds various applications due to its strong disinfecting and bleaching properties. Some of the largest end use sectors in Australia include:
– PVC Production: Around 30% of Australian chlorine output is converted to PVC (polyvinyl chloride) resin, a versatile plastic used in pipes, window frames, siding and more.
– Water Treatment: Municipal water authorities use chlorine to disinfect drinking water supplies. It kills bacteria and viruses that cause disease.
– Paper And Pulp Bleaching: The wood pulp and paper industries rely on chlorine to bleach fibers and produce bright white paper products.
– Pool Sanitization: Chlorine (usually in the form of calcium hypochlorite) keeps swimming pool and spa water safe from microbial growth.
– Chemical Manufacturing: Chlorine derivatives such as caustic soda, bleach and chlorinated solvents receive further processing at chemical plants.
– Wastewater Treatment: Both municipal wastewater and industrial effluents undergo chlorination to remove harmful organisms before discharge.
While some end uses like bleaching and chemical production have declined slightly in Australia due a shift to non-chlorine alternatives, PVC and water treatment continue to sustain strong domestic chlorine consumption. The market remains broadly stable despite environmental concerns around certain applications.
Future Outlook
Over the next decade, demand for chlorine in Australia is projected to grow marginally at around 1% annually according to industry analysts. PVC resin output may rise modestly in line with overall polymer production. Water treatment needs will increase proportionally to population growth.
On the supply side, membrane cell technology is expected to remain dominant for economic reasons despite its higher upfront capital costs versus older methods. No major expansions to existing chlor-alkali facilities are foreseen although minor capacity increases could eventuate. Energy efficiency gains may modestly lower production costs.
Overall, the Australia chlorine industry seems set for steady yet unspectacular growth while maintaining its competitive position exporting technology expertise to offshore markets as well. Environmental performance will remain a key focus given public interest in chlorine’s implications for health and the environment. Modest innovation can be expected on more sustainable alternatives and applications.
*Note:
1.Source: CoherentMI, Public sources, Desk research
2.We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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