The Adelaide-based junior announced that it has committed to the project by joining with Scott Group of Companies to establish a new company Port Bonython Fuels Pty Ltd.

“[It] marks an important milestone in our fuels distribution and refinery project, which has been in development for some time,” Stuart’s managing director Tino Guglielmo.

“This project will secure fuel supplies for resource and agricultural industries and for regional development in the mid and far north of South Australia well into the future.”

The development will comprise a terminal, with 80 million litres of fuel storage capacity, marine loading and unloading facilities, provisions for future rail access and a refinery capable of producing 100 million litres of diesel per year.

Construction of the Phase 1 trans-modal terminal will begin mid next year,once the detailed engineering design stage, which includes environmental and cultural heritage assessments, is complete.

“The terminal will be capable of importing in excess of 500 million litres of fuel per year, more effectively servicing regional requirements and future growth and will relieve the terminals in Adelaide,” Stuart said.

“As well as servicing the resource industries, the facility will also provide back-up fuel supplies to meet periods of seasonal demand in the agricultural sector during seeding and harvest.”

Stuart and Scott have been in extended negotiations with the South Australian Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure and the Land Management Corporation to secure a suitable site at Port Bonython.