Perdaman company is planning the construction of an oil refinery in Australia
The focus is on a project involving the company Perdaman, previously known for fertilizer production. The initiative involves conducting a preliminary feasibility study for the construction of a new oil refinery. Company Chairman Vikas Rambal stated that the project's implementation could contribute to strengthening Australia's energy independence. According to Premier Roger Cook, the government is considering potential locations in the Midwest and South West regions.
The project is controversial due to issues regarding engagement with the five Aboriginal groups responsible for the Murujuga area: the Yaburara, Ngarluma, Mardudhunera, Wong-Goo-Tt-Oo, and Yindjibarndi. During the implementation of the previous project, Ceres, three sacred sites were relocated with the approval of government agencies and following consultations with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC). Despite this, a number of Indigenous representatives have expressed disagreement with these actions. In official statements, Perdaman's management insists that the company conducted all necessary consultations within the framework of current regulatory standards.
Additional tension is created by environmental debates concerning the impact of industrial facilities on rock art in the Murujuga region. Meanwhile, Vikas Rambal has expressed interest in using condensate extracted from the Browse Basin gas project for the needs of future oil refining. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ruled out the possibility that exploring the feasibility of the refinery construction would influence the independent environmental assessment of the gas project.
According to public records, since mid-2024, Perdaman has made donations to the Western Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party, and the National Party. The company has already received government loans totaling $475 million for the Ceres project, which, according to Perdaman's estimates, created 2,500 jobs during the construction phase and will provide 200 permanent jobs during the operational phase.