Project Ceres is Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers’ flagship urea manufacturing development in Karratha, Western Australia. With a USD $4.5 billion investment, it will become Australia’s largest urea plant, producing 2.3 million tonnes per annum to strengthen national food security and reduce reliance on imported fertilisers. Backed by a 20-year gas supply agreement with Woodside and an offtake agreement with Incitec Pivot, the project exemplifies sustainable industrial growth. Located in the Burrup Strategic Industrial Area, the plant is all set to create 2,000 construction jobs and 200 operational roles, as well as the ongoing need for the procurement of local goods and services, including periodic shut-downs and maintenance, fuelling local employment and driving significant economic and community impact.
Project Ceres features a robust utility ecosystem to support its operations and regional development. It will generate 101MW of power onsite through gas turbine generators, supplemented by an average of 5MW from installed solar. This energy will be used entirely to power the plant’s operations, ensuring reliable and self-sufficient energy supply for the facility. Water needs will be met through collaboration with the Water Corporation, including access to a common-user seawater pipeline and an expanded supply network in Dampier. The site includes leased land from Landcorp and part of the Burrup East-West Service Corridor, enabling streamlined transportation of urea to the Pilbara Ports Authority via an approximately 3.5km closed conveyor for export.
The EPC contract is being delivered by the Saipem-Clough Joint Venture (SCJV), covering all phases from engineering and procurement to construction and commissioning. The contract also includes civil works, storage, utilities, and a low-emission power plant. SCJV’s scope reflects advanced technology integration and environmental efficiency, making Ceres one of the world’s most sustainable and modern fertiliser facilities. With the strong backing of the Western Australian Government, Project Ceres marks a transformative chapter in Australian manufacturing, extracting value from natural resources while advancing national decarbonisation goals and creating a foundation for future green industry initiatives.
As of Mid July 2026
At Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers, every milestone reflects our commitment to building a more sustainable and self-reliant Australia. Through global collaboration, world-class engineering, and bold innovation, Project Ceres continues to take shape—paving the way for local industry, jobs, and energy-efficient fertiliser production.
This video captures the arrival of our first prefabricated modules in Karratha-marking a major step in construction progress.
Monday, 12 August 2024 Perdaman Ceres Housing Fund Pty Ltd (“Perdaman”) acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Murujuga land, namely
Wednesday, 26 April 2023 Perdaman Holdings Pty Limited (“Perdaman”) is pleased to announce that it has successfully been allocated
Wednesday, 26 April 2023 Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers Pty Ltd (“Perdaman”) acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Murujuga land, namely
Our stakeholders play a critical role in the success of Project Ceres—from government and industry partners to local communities. Their collaboration ensures alignment with national priorities, regional development, and sustainability, while fostering trust, shared value, and long-term economic impact.
Perdaman’s journey has been marked by innovation, positive impact, and excellence—recognised through awards that celebrate our achievements across industry leadership, sustainability, community engagement, and project delivery. These honours reflect our unwavering commitment to creating a better tomorrow.
Societe Generale awarded Adviser of the Year by Project Finance International (PFI)
Industrial Deal of the Year (Asia-Pacific): Perdaman
To meet the State and Commonwealth environmental conditions of approval, environment management plans have been developed by Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers and approved by the State and Commonwealth Governments. These environmental management plans are provided below.
This section outlines the comprehensive environmental management strategies approved under Part IV of the EP Act. These plans guide the responsible execution of Project Ceres and include greenhouse gas, air quality, cultural heritage, threatened species, and impact reconciliation management to ensure strong compliance and sustainable project development.
This section features annual compliance reports and detailed documentation demonstrating our adherence to environmental conditions under MS1180 and EPBC Act. These reports highlight our commitment to transparency, regulatory alignment, and responsible operation through continuous assessment and performance reporting from 2022 to 2024.
The Environmental Review Document (ERD) provides the basis for Project Ceres’ approval and includes a thorough evaluation of potential environmental impacts. It supports informed decision-making through detailed assessments, management plans, and community consultation outcomes, ensuring alignment with environmental and sustainability standards throughout the project’s development and operational phases.
This section includes technical appendices supporting the Environmental Review Document. It comprises maps, assessments (marine fauna, noise, air quality, GHG), biological and traffic studies, community engagement summaries, and correspondence. Together, these appendices provide transparency and depth to our environmental assessment and planning process for Project Ceres.
In November 2018 Perdaman signed a 20-year gas supply and purchase agreement with Woodside. This has been pivotal in ensuring Project Ceres proceeds as it provides certainty of supply of the primary input into the urea production process.
Project Ceres will generate 101MW of power onsite through gas turbine generators, supplemented by an average of 5MW from installed solar. This energy will be used entirely to power the plant’s operations, ensuring reliable and self-sufficient energy supply for the facility.
Perdaman has signed an agreement with Water Corporation to ensure reliable water supply for Project Ceres during both construction and operational phases. The project will have direct access to the common-user seawater pipeline for water intake and brine discharge. Additionally, Perdaman and Water Corporation are collaborating on the expansion of the Dampier water supply facility to meet the needs of Project Ceres and support future developments within the Burrup Strategic Industrial Area.
Clough and Saipem have formed a 50/50 joint venture to deliver the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for Perdaman’s world-class urea manufacturing plant on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia. Now well into construction, the plant will produce 2.3 million tonnes of urea per annum and includes major infrastructure such as site civils, a water treatment facility, onsite power generation exceeding 100MW, and fully integrated urea storage and handling systems. A 3.5-kilometre enclosed conveyor system will connect the plant directly to Port of Dampier for efficient product export to local and global markets.
Valued at approximately USD $2.75 billion, this EPC contract underscores the strategic scale and importance of Project Ceres, which holds State Significant Project status from the Western Australian Government. Clough and Saipem continue to deliver the project with a strong focus on environmental stewardship and energy efficiency.
Once operational, Project Ceres will reduce Australia’s dependence on imported fertiliser, contribute significantly to food security, and support Western Australia’s economic growth by creating 2,000 construction jobs and 200 ongoing operational roles. It also sets a benchmark for high-efficiency, low-emissions urea production on the global stage.
