An ambitious project in WA to build and operate a Canola plant has launched an initial $10 million capital raising aimed at local growers
Growers in Western Australia’s Great Southern are waking up to the news that a high-capacity canola processing plant is proposed for their region, and that a $10 million seed-raising round is anticipated to kick the investment off.
The project is being led by Infrastructure Asset Group (IAG) under its Australian Canola Oils (ACO) brand, who say the initial $10 million capital raising will be used to support early-stage planning, feasibility studies, and development.
IAG advises that priority for the initial $10 million capital raising will be given to growers in Western Australia, but it has not been revealed at this stage as to how much more funding will be required to complete the project.
IAG has indicated the facility is designed to crush up to one million tonnes of canola annually.
Site details and timeline
IAG has indicated the plant will produce oil, meal, and biochar from residual agricultural wastes, offering farmers access to renewable and sustainable inputs to improve soil health.
IAG has indicated that Commodity Ag, operated by Alan Richardson and his family, is the foundation partner for the project.
The Richardson’s are established growers in the Great Southern, managing approximately 20,000 hectares.
In 2023, they expanded into bulk exporting via Albany WA building their own supply chain and establishing receival sites at Willyung and Drome WA. The proposed canola-crushing facility will be located at the Drome site, currently serviced by the Mirambeena spur line.
Production capacity
IAG envisions this highly ambitious facility as the foundation for future growth, with potential expansion into the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (RD).
The initial crushing capacity of 1 million tonnes is anticipated within five years, with Stage Two potentially increasing capacity by an additional 500,000 to 1 million tonnes.
Currently, Western Australia leads the nation in canola production and export, while the state processing capacity is only around 60,000 tonnes, primarily managed by GrainCorp’s Pinjarra plant and Aus Oils in Kojonup WA.
The current 2025-26 WA canola harvest is forecast at 3.8 million tonnes, with the Albany port region expected to contribute 1.25 million tonnes, second only to the Kwinana zone at 1.35 million tonnes.
IAG’s leadership, including director Enzo Gullotti, based in South Yarra VIC, previously a co-founder of New Energy, who proposed a Rockingham WA facility to convert 300,000 tonnes of municipal waste annually into electricity.
From approval in January 2020, the project was proposed to be operational by 2023, but it is currently in external administration and controlled by receivers.
