Yamatji-led partnership to explore a renewable diesel refinery for WA's Mid-West

Agilitas Advisory, through its Australian strategy and design firm Veyter, has joined a Yamatji-led partnership to explore building a renewable diesel refinery in Western Australia's Mid-West. The initiative was announced on 14 September 2026.

The partnership is majority First Nations-owned: Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation (YSRC) holds a 51% controlling stake, with Veyter — the Australian firm within the Agilitas Advisory group — holding the remaining 49%. It is a rare example of Traditional Owners holding genuine majority ownership of a major industrial development on their own Country, rather than participating at the margins.

What's being explored

The partners have begun a 12-month feasibility study for a renewable "Agri-Diesel" refinery near Geraldton, with the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Estate identified as a potential location. The plant would convert Western Australian canola and tallow into a drop-in diesel substitute that requires no engine modification and cuts lifecycle emissions by roughly 85%.

At full scale the refinery is envisaged to produce around 1.1 billion litres of renewable diesel a year — about 20,000 barrels per day, or close to 4% of Australia's total diesel demand. Capital expenditure is estimated at approximately A$2.5 billion, including an integrated oilseed crushing facility to process feedstock on site.

Indicative timeline

• Feasibility studies — a 12-month program, commencing now
• Pre-FEED completion — targeted for Q3 2027
• Front-end engineering design (FEED) — 2027
• First production — targeted for 2032

Why it matters

Australia currently imports around 80% of its diesel, leaving the economy — and its agriculture, mining and freight sectors — exposed to global supply shocks. A domestically produced, drop-in renewable diesel made from local feedstock would meaningfully reduce that dependence while supporting Mid-West grain growers through a new, large-scale offtake market.

The project is also expected to create around 4,000 jobs during construction and roughly 400 permanent operating roles — significant regional employment for the Mid-West.

"This is about moving beyond participation to genuine ownership of major industry on our Country," said Luka Gray, CEO of Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation.

"Feedstock, land, power and offtake market are already in place," said Ron Loborec, Managing Partner at Agilitas. That combination is what makes the Mid-West opportunity unusually well-suited to renewable diesel — and what the feasibility study will now test in detail.

The project is at feasibility stage. Figures on capacity, cost, timeline and jobs are indicative and subject to the studies now underway.