Australia has reached a pivotal milestone in industrial decarbonization with the official opening of Myrtle, the world’s first fully integrated, multi-purpose carbon refinery, operated by clean technology company MCi Carbon (MCi).
Located on Kooragang Island in Newcastle, the facility represents the culmination of 15 years of rigorous Australian research and development. Myrtle utilizes proprietary mineral carbonation technology to transform industrial CO2 emissions and low-value mineral feedstocks, such as steel slag and waste rock, into high-quality, carbon-embodied materials.
These materials are essential for everyday construction, including concrete, plasterboard, paint, and adhesives. By permanently locking carbon into these products at the molecular level, the process offers a pathway to reduce net emissions in hard-to-abate sectors by up to 90%.
Reframing decarbonization as a profitable asset
Unlike traditional carbon capture methods that treat emissions as a liability to be stored underground, MCi Carbon’s platform transforms them into a value-generating asset.
The company is effectively reframing industrial decarbonization from a costly compliance hurdle into a profitable investment. With the global market for carbon-embedded construction materials projected to reach $1 trillion annually by 2050, the economic potential is significant.
The facility’s versatility allows it to accept diverse CO2 streams and various mineral inputs, making it a globally transferable solution. It can be configured for on-site integration at existing industrial plants or operated as a hub-and-spoke model to serve regional emitters.
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Myrtle is already serving as a bridge to commercial scale. Hosted at Orica’s Kooragang Island ammonia plant, the facility allows global industry leaders to validate the platform against their own emissions profiles and commercial requirements.
Currently, MCi is running a validation campaign with global refractory leader RHI Magnesita, targeting the construction of a first-of-a-kind commercial plant in Austria by 2030.
Supported by over AUD $80 million (~$56 million) in combined government funding and private investment from global partners, Myrtle is more than a test site. It is a working model that demonstrates how heavy industry, which is responsible for over 30% of global emissions, can build the low-carbon economy while turning carbon dioxide into a foundational building block for the future.
Read more: Japan’s MUCC Invests $5M In MCi Carbon To Advance Cement Decarbonization
