First-of-its-kind mineral carbonation plant starts production in Australia

Australian cleantech company MCi Carbon has started producing materials from captured carbon dioxide at its mineral carbonation plant in Newcastle, New South Wales.

The demonstration plant, called Myrtle – MCi Carbon’s first “carbon refinery” – takes carbon dioxide (CO₂) captured from ammonia production and turns it into materials used in concrete, plasterboard, glass and paper.

MCi Carbon is aiming to capture 2,500 tonnes of CO₂ a year and produce 10,000 tonnes of compounds including magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate and amorphous silica. These compounds are used across construction and advanced manufacturing.

At peak operation, Myrtle will support up to 50 highly skilled jobs, including engineers and operators transitioning from fossil fuel and heavy industry roles.

‘We’re backing Australian innovation to cut emissions and create the next generation of clean industries,’ says Chris Bowen, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy.

‘This demonstration plant is a glimpse of what could become a major new industry in Newcastle and the Hunter.’

International investment and interest

MCi Carbon was founded in 2013 with support from the Australian Government, NSW Government, the University of Newcastle and Orica. The company is on a mission to create economic pathways for permanent carbon removal, reframing carbon as valuable and making industry sustainable. Its technology is designed to process CO₂ from a variety of industrial sources to produce low-carbon materials.

MCi Carbon is Australian-owned and headquartered, with its technology invented, patented and held in Australia, and its skilled core team based onshore. Read more about Myrtle’s capabilities.

MCi Carbon has started production at Myrtle, a mineral carbonation demonstration plant. Image courtesy of MCi Carbon.

MCi Carbon’s technology has attracted global interest, particularly from Japan. Four major Japanese companies and institutions have invested in the company: ITOCHU Corporation, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and Mitsubishi UBE Cement Corporation (MUCC). Through these partnerships, MCi Carbon has been exploring the commercialisation of mineral carbonation technology in Japan.

In addition to government funding, MCi Carbon completed a US$20 million capital raise in early 2025. Orica, one of Australia’s largest industrial manufacturers, provides critical collaboration in process design, safety systems, and operations.

MCi Carbon has already secured a customer from Europe. Global refractories leader RHI Magnesita invested US$10 million and will be the first customer to run a campaign at Myrtle in 2026.

MCi Carbon was the first recipient of the Australia-Austria Industrial Decarbonisation Demonstration Partnership Program. The program provided funding for joint Australian and Austrian decarbonisation projects. It supports the development of innovative technologies, processes or solutions to decarbonise hard-to-abate energy-intensive industries.

Australian Government support for carbon management

Carbon management technologies are an important part of the Australian Government’s approach to reducing emissions safely and responsibly, particularly in hard-to-abate industries like cement, chemicals, manufacturing and steel.

In 2024, MCi Carbon received A$14.5 million through the Australian Government’s Carbon Capture Technologies Program. The company has also received grants of A$14.6 million from the Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage Development Fund.

Austrade has invited MCi Carbon to present its technology to Japanese and Korean organisations, and provided introductions to key industry stakeholders.

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