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Coralia Commences Harvesting and Pyrolysis Trial at Flagship Great Barrier Reef Biochar Project
Sydney, 28 May 2026 – NoviqTech Limited ASX: NVQ is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Coralia has commenced its field and pyrolysis trial at the Company's flagship Great Barrier Reef Biochar Project in North Queensland.
The trial involves the harvesting, chipping and conversion of invasive Chinese Apple trees into high quality biochar, and is designed to assess operational feasibility, feedstock quality, environmental performance and suitability for long term carbon removal pathways. It is also intended to establish early Monitoring, Reporting and Verification MRV systems consistent with expectations applied by premium carbon removal registries and sophisticated institutional carbon credit buyers.
Highlights
Trial commenced: Coralia has mobilised contractors and commenced harvesting and chipping of invasive Chinese Apple trees across its target areas at its flagship Great Barrier Reef Biochar Project, North Queensland.
Successful land clearing completed: Three areas spanning high, medium and low infestation densities have been selected from aerial surveys, targeted engagement with local landowners and stakeholders and ground observations and feedstock classification from the Coralia team, ensuring broad coverage of feedstock types cleared across the project landscape.
Pyrolysis testing with Pyrocal: Following the harvesting and chipping component of the trial Biomass will be transported to Pyrocal's pyrolysis facility in Toowoomba for pyrolysis trials across multiple operating temperatures, producing biochar samples for laboratory analysis and downstream research.
Swinburne research input: Biochar produced from the trial will support Coralia's previously announced low carbon concrete research program with Swinburne University of Technology.
Puro.earth alignment: Trial data, chain of custody records and Life Cycle Assessment LCA inputs are being collected to align with Puro.earth methodology requirements, with preliminary assessment approval by Puro.earth targeted for September 2026.
Institutional engagement: Trial outputs are intended to support engagement with A Healthier Earth AHE under the previously announced strategic MOU, and to inform pilot facility design work with engineering partner TFA Project Group.
Significant preparatory work was completed in the lead up to the trial. Aerial and ground surveys have been carried out across the target properties by Fyfe, and aerial survey analysis was compared with on ground observations yielding valuable insights into biomass characteristics alongside targeted consultation with local landowners and stakeholders to guide clearing across multiple infestation densities. Clearing and chipping contractors engaged in site inspections of access and terrain. To ensure representative sampling without overwhelming downstream processing capacity, clearing and chipping will proceed at a controlled rate.
Trial Objectives
The trial is structured to deliver outcomes across six key areas:
Institutional alignment: demonstrate a disciplined, transparent and scalable approach consistent with the due diligence expectations of Puro.earth and institutional carbon removal buyers.
Operational feasibility: evaluate machinery productivity, logistics, moisture management and contamination control in real world conditions.
Feedstock suitability: assess Chinese Apple biomass for pyrolysis, biochar yield and long term carbon storage stability.
Economic assessment: gather data to inform an internal economic viability study covering the harvesting to pyrolysis value chain.
Environmental assessment: capture emissions and operational data to assess environmental performance and co benefits, including land restoration and invasive species removal.
Research support: produce biochar samples for Swinburne University's biochar in concrete research program, agricultural trials and laboratory analysis.
Trial Scope
The trial scope spans the full value chain from field to biochar, and includes:
Aerial and ground survey of target areas completed
Harvest and clearing of invasive Chinese Apple trees
Chipping of harvested biomass to specification
Homogenisation, sampling and laboratory testing of feedstock
Transport of biomass to the Pyrocal facility in Toowoomba
Pyrolysis trials across multiple operating temperatures
Biochar testing and sample preparation
Pyrolysis stack testing
Operational data collection to inform an economic viability study
Development of a draft carbon accounting framework
Supply of biochar samples to Swinburne University's concrete research program
Indicative Timeline
The trial is structured around the following indicative milestones. Timelines are subject to operational, weather and third party factors and may be revised as the trial progresses.
Mid May 2026: pre trial preparation complete; aerial and ground surveys completed; contractors mobilised.
Late May 2026: harvesting and chipping campaign underway.
Early June 2026: feedstock laboratory testing; transport to Pyrocal; pyrolysis trials commence; biochar samples dispatched to Swinburne.
Mid to late June 2026: feedstock, biochar and stack test results received; independent peer review of Life Cycle Assessment LCA ahead of Puro.earth submission; bulk biochar dispatched to Swinburne for comprehensive concrete testing.
Early July 2026: submission of comprehensive data package to Puro.earth for Preliminary Assessment; integration of trial data with pilot construction cost estimates and the regulatory overview.
August / September 2026: expected completion of Puro.earth Preliminary Assessment approximately 6 to 8 weeks post submission.
Strategic Significance
The trial is intended to demonstrate that invasive woody weed species can become a scalable feedstock for high integrity carbon dioxide removal CDR while simultaneously delivering land restoration, biodiversity and agricultural co benefits in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.
Trial outputs are designed to produce operational data, environmental insights and scientific evidence to inform future investment decisions, technology selection, regulatory engagement and potential carbon removal certification pathways. The trial is intended to support engagement with institutional stakeholders, including under Coralia's previously announced strategic MOU with A Healthier Earth, and to inform pilot facility design work with TFA Project Group.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward looking statements. These statements are based on the Company's current expectations and beliefs as at the date of this announcement and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. The trial is at an early stage and there is no certainty that it will deliver the results contemplated, that Puro.earth certification will be achieved, or that any commercial agreements will be executed or result in revenue for the Company. The Company gives no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct and nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast or guarantee of future performance.
About Coralia
Coralia is an Australian Biochar Carbon Removal company building an institutional grade portfolio of high integrity Biochar Carbon Dioxide Removal CDR projects in the Great Barrier Reef catchment in North Queensland.
Coralia’s Biochar CDR credits and physical biochar are positioned to support data centres and their AI hyperscale customers in reducing net carbon emissions both within Australia and globally, as demand for high integrity biochar carbon removals continues to accelerate.
For more information, visit coralia.com.au
Authorised for release by the Board of NoviqTech Limited.
Source: ASX.
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