Site Background

The Botany Industrial Park (BIP)

The ICI Era 

In 1942, Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand (ICIANZ), part of the UK-based ICI Plc Group, began producing carbon bisulphide as the first chemical to be made at its new Botany site in Sydney. Quickly following the carbon bisulphide plant, the ChlorAlkali Plant was built. These early manufacturing plants were an essential element of Australia's war effort as the imporation of many of these chemicals was disrupted by the World War II. The company went on to produce a range of chemicals used in a multitude of domestic and industrial products.  These chemicals and typical uses have included, amongst others:

• chlorine and caustic products for water treatment and swimming pools
• polypropylene used for car bumpers and interiors
• polyethylene for plastic film and containers
• solvents such as perchlorethylene for dry cleaning fluids
• polyvinyl chloride for plastic pipes and electrical insulation
• ammonium nitrate and urea for fertilizers
• surfactants used to make detergents.

From ICI to Orica

Having operated the Botany site for approximately 55 years under the umbrella of the parent company ICI Plc, in July 1997 the Australian and New Zealand operations became an independent Australasian company when ICI Plc divested its 62.4 percent shareholding in ICI Australia Ltd. As a result of the selldown, the new company became Orica Ltd in February 1998. 

BIP Today - Joint Ownership and Operation: Orica, Qenos, Huntsman 

BIP is currently owned and operated by three different companies: Orica, Qenos, and Huntsman. Following the changes in ownership and name in 1998, Orica conducted a review of company strategy and operations. Having subdivided the BIP site, Orica sold its surfactants business to Huntsman in 1998.  In 1999 a polyolefines joint venture called Qenos was formed between Orica and ExxonMobil, which was subsequently sold to China National Chemical Corporation in 2005.

Orica Plants in Operation at BIP

Orica now owns approximately 40% of land at the BIP, and owns and operates the following three plants:

• ChlorAlkali plant
• Groundwater Treatment Plant (GTP)
• HCB Waste Repackaging Plant 

The ChlorAlkali plant is the only ongoing chemical manufacturing plant owned by Orica at BIP. The plant was commissioned in 2002 and designed for a minimum operating life of 20 years.  The chlorine business remains strong and it is envisaged that the operation of this plant will extend beyond 2022.

The GTP was constructed specifically for one of the Botany Transformation Projects. The plant is designed to treat contaminated groundwater and to contain the contaminated groundwater plumes and produce high quality water suitable for reuse by nearby industrial and commercial customers.

The HCB Waste Repackaging Plant was constructed in 2006 and commissioned in early 2007. This plant automates the repackaging of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) waste.

Orica proposes to build another plant, a Directly-Heated Thermal Desorption (DTD) plant, on site to treat and destroy hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) contaminated soil that is buried in an encapsulation under a carpark on the northern part of the BIP. (It is known as the Car Park Waste Encapsulation [CPWE].) 

Southlands

The Orica Southlands site is 18 hectares of undeveloped land fronting McPherson Street, Banksmeadow. It does not form part of the BIP. The site is zoned for industrial use and is home to groundwater extraction wells and pipework for the Botany Groundwater Cleanup Project. 

Orica proposes to develop the site in stages for a new warehousing facility.