MCi Carbon has opened Myrtle, a fully integrated multi-purpose carbon refinery in Newcastle, Australia. The facility converts CO2 and low-value mineral feedstocks into raw materials for cement, steel, plastics, glass, and construction. The company says the process can reduce net emissions in hard-to-abate industries by up to 90% and reframes decarbonisation as an investment with a return rather than a compliance cost. Myrtle is running its first commercial validation campaign with RHI Magnesita, targeting an inaugural commercial plant at RHI's Austrian site by 2030. RHI has invested over US$10 million in the technology. Initial capacity is planned to produce more than 200,000 tonnes of low-carbon minerals while absorbing 50,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. Material produced at Myrtle has been trialled in concrete field tests hosted by Boral at its Maldon Cement Works. Initial results show MCi's cementitious material performed on par with conventional inputs under real commercial batching conditions. MCi Carbon has received more than $40 million in cumulative government funding.
