In December 1988 Australian Gold Reagents Pty Ltd produced a Public Environmental Review document describing its proposal to expand its existing sodium cyanide solution plant at Kwinana and increase its annual production from 15,000 tonnes per annum to 40,000 tonnes per annum.

In its assessment, the Environmental Protection Authority concluded that the only issue not fully addressed was that of risks and hazards. The proposal only quantitatively addressed risks and hazards for a 30,000 tonnes per annum plant. Consequently, the Environmental Protection Authority only approved a plant expansion to 30,000 tonnes per annum. (Bulletin 387, Ministerial Statement 73)

The Environmental Protection Authority notified Australian Gold Reagents Pty Ltd that if lf wished to expand the plant to its proposed 40,000 tonnes per annum production it would have to address the issue of quantified risk analysis covering the additional 10,000 tonnes per annum.

This proposal is for the expansion of the plant to 40.000 tonnes per annum.