The Hon. Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy; The Hon. Sharon Claydon, Federal Member for Newcastle, Joint Media Release, 17 June 2026
Homes across Australia could soon be built using materials made from captured climate pollution, with production now underway at a new demonstration plant in Newcastle.
The MCi Carbon plant takes carbon dioxide captured from ammonia production and turns it into materials used in concrete, plasterboard, glass and paper.
MCi Carbon aims to capture 2,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and produce 10,000 tonnes of compounds including magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate and amorphous silica.
These compounds are in demand across various industries, including construction, manufacturing and agriculture. That means new opportunities for Australian industry while cutting emissions.
At peak operation, Myrtle will support up to 50 highly skilled local jobs, including engineers and operators, many transitioning from fossil fuel and heavy industry roles.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the project showed how regions like the Hunter can be at the centre of Australia’s clean industrial future.
“We’re backing Australian innovation to cut emissions and create the next generation of clean industries,” Minister Bowen said.
“This demonstration plant is a glimpse of what could become a major new industry for places like Newcastle and the Hunter.
“Taking carbon dioxide from industrial production and turning it into materials for homes, buildings and manufacturing is exactly the kind of practical, Australian-made technology we should be backing.
“This is about cutting emissions, creating new products, and building new clean industries, literally brick by brick.”
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said the project showed Newcastle was ready to seize the opportunities of the clean energy economy.
“Newcastle has always been an industrial city that makes things Australia needs, and this project shows we can keep doing that in a cleaner, smarter way,” Ms Claydon said.
“This is exactly the kind of innovation we want to see in Newcastle: local know-how, local industry and local ambition working together to build the next generation of clean industries, while cutting emissions.
“MCi Carbon is showing how the Hunter’s industrial strengths can be part of the solution, cutting emissions while creating new products and new opportunities.
“I’m proud the Albanese Government is backing technology being developed here in Newcastle that could help build homes, support local manufacturing and open the door to new clean industries.”
In 2024, MCi Carbon received $14.5 million through the Australian Government’s Carbon Capture Technologies Program to help produce building materials from captured carbon dioxide.
Through Round 1 of the program, the Albanese Government is investing $65 million across seven projects that will decarbonise hard-to-abate industrial processes and support emerging technologies including mineral carbonisation and direct air capture.
Round 2 of the Carbon Capture Technologies Program closed to applications on 6 May 2026. $32.6 million is available for the grant opportunity.
Carbon management technologies are an important part of the Albanese Government’s approach to reducing emissions safely and responsibly, particularly in hard-to-abate industries like cement, chemicals, manufacturing and steel.
