Our Story

Ross and Chris Harrison and Mark and Tony Lowe, who have operated fuel distribution businesses for over 25 years until the recent sales of their distributorships have been the sponsors of the Dalby Bio-Refinery Project.

Formed in August 2002, DBRL is an unlisted public company established solely for the purpose of developing the project. The management team made up originally by the brothers Harrison and Lowe has considerable experience in the fuel distribution market in Australia.

Following the announcement of the Commonwealth Government’s Cleaner Fuels for Australia policy in 2001 the Promoters recognised the opportunity for a renewable industry in Australia and particularly the benefits of blending ethanol with petrol. Coupled with this, the growing need for oxygenates in the national hydrocarbon ‘pool’ saw the project concept begin.

The Project comprises the design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and operation of Queensland’s first grain-to-ethanol production facility at Dalby, in the ‘grain belt’ of the Darling Downs region. The Project has a 40 year engineering life (min.) and is strategically positioned as a manufacturing enterprise well beyond the term of initial off take arrangements. Construction commenced in February 2007 with the bulk earth works and reached practical completion early December 2008. The plant started commissioning at 10th December 2008 and has since then been operational.