Ambre Energy
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coal, Oil shale |
| Founded | June 2005 |
| Founder | Edek Choros |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
Area served | Australia, United States |
| Products | Coal, Oil shale products, Synthetic crude, Dimethyl ether, Electricity |
| Website | www |
Ambre Energy Limited is an Australian company specializing in coal and oil shale operations, with offices located in both Brisbane and Salt Lake City.
History
Established in June 2005 by mining engineer and geologist Edek Choros, Ambre Energy submitted a patent application in September 2005 for its Hybrid Energy System, a technique designed to process low-grade coal and other carbon-rich materials.
By April 2006, Ambre Energy entered discussions with Oil-Tech, Inc., a Utah-based firm specializing in oil shale technology. Oil-Tech had developed a staged electrically heated retort process used for oil shale pyrolysis. In October 2006, the two companies created Millennium Synfuels, LLC to oversee the rights associated with this retorting technology. Over time, Ambre Energy acquired increasing shares of Oil-Tech, culminating in full ownership by July 2008 when Oil-Tech was integrated into Ambre Energy.
Felton Clean Coal Project
Ambre Energy proposed constructing a clean coal gasification facility in Felton Valley, located southwest of Toowoomba, Queensland. The venture included plans for an open-cut coal mine alongside a carbon capture installation. When fully operational, the plant was expected to produce 2.8 million tonnes annually of dimethyl ether, generate 650 MW of electricity, and supply by-products for fertilizer, olefins, and plastics production.
In April 2012, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman rejected the project proposal amid reports indicating financial concerns for Ambre Energy. The company refuted these claims, emphasizing that the Felton project was still in preliminary investigation stages.
By December 2016, Ambre Energy had renewed two coal exploration permits granted by the Queensland government, indicating continued interest in mining activities at Felton.
North American operations
In February 2009, Ambre Energy revealed intentions to develop a US$375 million coal facility in southeastern Montana capable of producing up to 4.4 million tons of coal and 1.6 million barrels of synthetic crude each year. The company secured a 50% ownership stake in a mine near Decker, Montana, with Cloud Peak Energy owning the remaining half. However, in July 2012, Cloud Peak initiated legal action against Ambre Energy over export plans allegedly formulated without consent and accused Ambre of seeking an unfair share of the coal’s value. By December 2012, Cloud Peak agreed to sell its stake to Ambre for US$57 million; yet by May 2013, negotiations over the agreement were ongoing.
In November 2010, Millennium Bulk Logistics—a subsidiary of Ambre Energy—announced intentions to establish a coal export terminal in Longview, Washington. Later that month, permits were granted by the Cowlitz County commissioners. Nevertheless, Millennium withdrew its application in March 2011 to conduct additional environmental assessments. Initial plans targeted annual exports of 5.7 million tons; however, some reports indicated Ambre’s ambitions extended up to 80 million tons.
Further proposals for coal storage facilities at Oregon’s Port of Morrow and Port of St. Helens encountered public resistance and were ultimately denied by state regulators in September 2014 due to environmental concerns and risks posed to fishing areas utilized by Native American communities.
In December 2014, Ambre Energy divested all North American holdings to Resource Capital Funds, a Denver-based private equity firm, for US$18 million. The newly formed entity continued operations under the name Ambre Energy North America. In April 2015, it was rebranded as Lighthouse Resources Inc., maintaining its existing management team.
Oil-Tech process
Ambre Energy runs a modest pilot facility utilizing an Oil-Tech-style shale oil extraction method and holds oil shale leases located approximately southeast of Vernal, Utah. This technique involves feeding crushed oil shale into a vertical retort made up of multiple stacked heating chambers, where rods gradually raise the temperature of the shale to about in the bottom chamber. Vapors and gases are drawn into a condensation system, while the spent shale is recycled to preheat the incoming material. The modular nature of this technology ensures ease of transport, minimal water consumption, efficient thermal processing, and yields premium-grade shale oil.