Asphalt Review - Feb/March 2013 - Australian Asphalt Pavement ...

ASPHALT REVIEW
BP bitumen facility meets
northern Queensland demand
The BP Bitumen import and manufacturing
facility located within the Port of Townsville
was officially opened on 7 February by
David Crisafulli, Queensland Minister for
Local Government.
The new multi-million dollar investment
comprises two 5,000 tonne and two 3,000
tonne storage tanks, two 1,000 tonne
“day” tanks, a two-bay loading gantry and a
polymer modified binder production plant.
“Regional Queensland needs to continue
to promote the economic opportunities that
are available in our part of the world.” Mr
Crisafulli said in opening the plant.
“With a population nearing 200,000
and an ideal location to service the
northern part of the state, there are
golden opportunities for businesses to
invest in Townsville.”
Project activity began in 2009 and
included the green-field construction of the
new facility and significant upgrades to the
nearby product wharf.
The facility can now supply up to 120,000
tonnes of bitumen each year to help meet
strong demand for road building materials
in northern Queensland.
“Townsville’s strength lies in its diversity
of industry and it is always pleasing to see
another trade that will further support local
and regional growth, jobs, and business
come online,” Barry Holden, Port of
Townsville CEO, said.
“BP Australia has been proactive in
investing in the new infrastructure required
to make this bitumen trade a reality and we
congratulate the company on the initiative.”
The $50 million project was completed
safely and supported some 80 jobs during
the construction and commissioning phase.
Mike Bailey, BP Bitumen General
Manager, said; “We see strong growth
in northern Queensland for both paving
grade bitumen and our speciality products
designed for roads subject to high stress
and wear. We are delighted with the
performance of our new plant and are
pleased to be contributing to Queensland’s
prosperity.”
The Townsville facility is capable of
supplying Class 170 and Class 320 paving
grade bitumens compliant to Australian
Back Row from left to right: Kevin McCullough (General
Manager - Sunstate Group); Marissa Nichols (Manager
- Program Development & Performance - Department
of Transport and Main Roads); David Atkinson
(Regional Manager North - Department of Transport
and Main Roads); Paul Smith (Deputy Director General
- Department of Transport and Main Roads); Rob Vos
(AAPA Regional Executive); Mike McGuinness (Head
of Sales and Marketing - BP Australia); David Crisafulli
(Minister for Local Govt); Mike Bailey (National Bitumen
Manager - BP Australia);
Front Row from left to right: Les Millar (Chief Operations
Officer - Sunstate Group); Sam Priebe (General Manager
- Aspic Infrastructure); Adrian Grbac (National Sales
Manager - BP Australia); Brett Whitbread (Northern
Region Manager - Boral Asphalt); Rob McGuire (General
Manager - Boral Asphalt QLD)
Standard AS2008, as well as all grades of
polymer modified binders compliant to the
Austroads AG:PT/T190 specification and
Queensland’s MRTS 18.
Dr Graham Wilson, BP Bitumen Technical
Manager, explained; “The importation of
bitumen into Townsville and our other import
facilities in Brisbane and Hobart is supported
by a comprehensive quality control process.
This ensures compliance to the Australian
Standard and to our stringent HSE standards,
as well as performance on the road.”
BP Bitumen has recently begun operations
at a new combined bitumen and marine oil
import facility in Brisbane. Taken together the
Brisbane and Townsville projects represent an
investment of over $100 million.
38 ROADS FEB/MARCH 2013