Australian technology developer Licella is aiming for a final investment design (FID) in the second half of 2026 for its proposed 60mn litres/yr (l/yr) biorefinery at the Isis sugar mill, 265km north of Queensland's state capital Brisbane.
Project Swift has engaged contractors for engineering and site investigations after winning an A$8mn ($5.3mn) federal grant last year, a process expected to take 18–24 months and including detailed initial engineering ahead of an FID.
The firm plans to use its own its Cat-HTR hydrothermal liquefaction technology for turning sugarcane waste, known as bagasse, into about 40mn l/yr of sustainable aviation fuel and other products.
Licella has welcomed the Queensland government's recent announcement of a parliamentary inquiry into using sugarcane products for biofuel projects, saying clear, enabling policy will be needed to bring investment and opportunity to the state at scale.
Queensland's biofuel output is largely produced by Singapore-listed Wilmar's Sarina biorefinery, which can make 60mn l/yr of ethanol using about 220,000 t/yr of molasses from the region's sugar mills. About two thirds of this is used in vehicle fuel, Wilmar has said.
