In development application documents before the NSW Government, Orica outlines plans to construct three ammonia flaring stacks and a 10,000 tonne nitric acid storage tank on the island.
The site currently has approval to produce around 430,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate per annum, with increased demand from south east Australia behind the push to ramp up production.
The company said the stacks would be six, 10 and 20 metres high, and would act to burn off any fugitive ammonia released.
This news follows Orica declaring a statutory net profit of $602 million for 2013. This represented a jump of nearly 49 per cent over the previous year and the company recorded full year sales revenue of $6.9 billion, up three per cent.
Orica?s chief executive Ian Smith said the company?s strategy of promoting product and service differentiation has led to an increased contribution from mining services across its explosives markets. Mining chemical products improved on the back of better plant performance.
Smith flagged the company?s intention to expand its business without the need to build as many new plants as it has in the past.
Sources: Ferret, The Newcastle Herald, Orica