The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility will invest $74 million in Australia's first plant to produce Sulphate of Potash.
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The $250 million Beyondie Sulphate of Potash Project will produce a crucial fertiliser to support Australia's farmers and food security.
The project will produce 90 kilotonnes of Sulphate of Potash per annum at a facility 160 kilometres south east of Newman in WA.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matthew Canavan said NAIF's investment would help unlock an Australia-first.
"For the first time Australia will have a domestic source of Sulphate of Potash, a crucial fertiliser that Australia has until now had to import,” Mr Canavan said.
“It will directly create more than 150 jobs but it will help support many thousands more in our farming industry across Australia," he said.
Potassium is one of the three macronutrients essential to plant growth and Sulphate of Potash is a type of potassium.
It is more highly valued than the main alternative source of potassium, Potassium Chloride, because Sulphate of Potash has lower chloride levels and is more effective on chloride sensitive crops, such as citrus, fruit, almonds and strawberries.
Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price said the project involved developing the Beyondie, 10 Mile and Sunshine Lake sub-surface brine deposits and included construction of evaporation ponds and a processing facility.
“The NAIF will invest in a new gas pipeline, a new power plant and road upgrades that will provide wider benefits to the Pilbara. Over 75 kilometres of roads will be sealed and that will benefit Western Australian graziers and local indigenous communities too,” Ms Price said.
