Australian Stuart Oil Shale partners make first oil shipment

The partners of Australia's Stuart Oil Shale Project made their first oil shipment, exporting about 5,800 tons of medium shale oil to the Southeast Asia fuel oil market. Southern Pacific Petroleum and Central Pacific Minerals are partners in the operation which is still at a research and development stage and designed to produce about 4,500 bpd of oil from shale.
"Although this shipment is relatively small, it is a significant step in establishing markets for Stuart Oil products," the companies said. The project in Queensland state has also has been the target of protests by environmental group Greenpeace Australia, which says the plant is dirty and emits greenhouse gases, and wants it closed.