8 October 2008 ASX Announcement ASX: CNX Carbon Energy commences commercial trial of Underground Coal Gasification plant Carbon Energy Limited (ASX:CNX) today announced that it has successfully commenced syngas production at the Bloodwood Creek Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) site located in the Surat Basin, south east Queensland. Carbon Energy’s Chief Operating Officer Andrew Dash said it was a landmark day for Carbon Energy: “Bloodwood Creek is first project of its type in the world to demonstrate, on a commercial scale, our UCG process based on oxygen injection and our intellectual property developed in conjunction with the CSIRO over the past 10 years.” A one petajoule (PJ) per annum module, including all ancillary site works and associated infrastructure, has been constructed on time and within budget by the company’s dedicated team, he said The process will be ramped up to full design capacity production of UCG syngas over the next few weeks after which a 100-day trial period will commence. The objectives of this trial are to confirm Carbon Energy’s world leading UCG technology is capable of producing syngas in a sustainable and consistent quality to meet commercial requirements for gas feedstock suitable for production of a significant number of petrochemical reliant industries. Results from the trial will also be used as part of feasibility studies previously announced with Incitec Pivot Limited to confirm the suitability of Carbon Energy’s UCG syngas for ammonia production and also for methanol production following on from the Letter of Intent signed with LyondellBasell in September. Carbon Energy anticipates that the successful completion of this UCG syngas trial will be a significant milestone in establishing Carbon Energy’s UCG syngas as basis for the future development of significant commercial scale projects requiring an economical source of gas/petrochemical feedstock. Representative photographs of site works are attached, in addition to a related Media Release. Technology Transfer Building, Queensland Centre for Advanced Technology. 1 Technology Court (off Bainbridge Drive) Pullenvale QLD 4069 Tel: 61 7 3327 4442 Fax: 61 7 3327 4446 For and on behalf of the Board Andrew Dash Chief Operating Officer For Further information please contact: Investors Media Andrew Dash, Chief Operating Officer Greg Flynn Carbon Energy Channel Financial Communication Ph: 07 3327 4300 Ph: 02 9221 0008 M: 0419 025 507 M: 0400 225 115 COMPANY PROFILE Carbon Energy’s purpose is to produce clean energy and chemicals feedstock from Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) syngas. Carbon Energy’s unique approach to UCG and syngas production produces a low cost option for capturing CO2, making it a leader in clean coal technology. Carbon Energy’s ambition is for syngas to become the preferred feedstock for producing clean coal power stations, an alternative to oil-based fuel, agribusiness products (fertilisers & explosives), polyolefin products (such as plastics) and allowing for economic carbon capture. Carbon Energy’s technological advantage comes from its association with CSIRO including world class geotechnical, hydrological and gasification modelling capabilities. Located at the hub of the Surat Basin’s energy infrastructure, Carbon Energy’s energy resources are perfectly positioned to provide the basis for future energy, industrial and agricultural chemicals, and liquid fuels for export and to the growing local industrial hub. Page 2
Brisbane Office: Carbon Energy Limited ABN 56 057 552 137 Registered Office: Unit A2, 118 Railway Parade West Perth WA 6005 Australia PO Box 1785 West Perth WA 6872 Tel: +61 (08) 9321 5000 Fax: +61 (08) 9321 7177 www.carbonenergy.com.au MEDIA RELEASE 8 October 2008 Carbon Energy successfully commences Underground Coal Gasification commercial-scale trial Carbon Energy Limited (ASX:CNX) today commenced syngas production at its Bloodwood Creek Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) site in the Surat Basin, south east Queensland. Carbon Energy’s Chief Operating Officer Andrew Dash said the project is the first of its type in the world to demonstrate, on a commercial scale, the company’s UCG oxygen injection based process. The process has been developed in conjunction with the CSIRO over the past 10 years. Carbon Energy’s unique approach to UCG and syngas production produces a low cost option for capturing CO2, making the company a leader in clean coal technology. “This is a landmark day for Carbon Energy,” Mr Dash said. “With construction complete at Bloodwood Creek, we will gradually ramp up to full capacity production over the next few weeks, after which a 100 day trial period will commence. “The trial will demonstrate our world-leading UCG technology is capable of producing syngas in a sustainable and consistent quality to meet commercial requirements for gas feedstock suitable for petrochemical reliant industries.” Results from the A$20 million trial will be used as part of feasibility studies with Incitec Pivot Limited to confirm the suitability of Carbon Energy’s UCG syngas for ammonia production. The trial will be also used to study the syngas’ suitability for methanol production as outlined in the company’s recently signed Letter of Intent with LyondellBasell. “The successful completion of this trial will be a significant milestone in establishing the company’s UCG syngas as basis for the future development of significant commercial scale projects requiring an economical source of gas/petrochemical feedstock,” Mr Dash said. He added that Carbon Energy’s one petajoule (one million gigajoules) per annum module including all ancillary site works and associated infrastructure has been constructed on time and within budget. Technology Transfer Building, Queensland Centre for Advanced Technology. 1 Technology Court (off Bainbridge Drive) Pullenvale QLD 4069 Tel: 61 7 3327 4442 Fax: 61 7 3327 4446 For further information, please contact: Greg Flynn Channel Financial Communication Ph: 02 9221 0008 M: 0400 225 115 COMPANY PROFILE Carbon Energy’s purpose is to produce clean energy and chemicals feedstock from Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) syngas. Carbon Energy’s ambition is for syngas to become the preferred feedstock for producing clean coal power stations, an alternative to oil-based fuel, agribusiness products (fertilisers & explosives), polyolefin products (such as plastics) and allowing for economic carbon capture. Carbon Energy’s technological advantage comes from its association with CSIRO including world-class geotechnical, hydrological and gasification modelling capabilities. Located at the hub of the Surat Basin’s energy infrastructure, Carbon Energy’s energy resources are perfectly positioned to provide the basis for future energy, industrial and agricultural chemicals, and liquid fuels for export and to the growing local industrial hub. Page 2
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