The South Australian Government and Trafigura have unveiled a milestone $750 million green hydrogen project, which will be integrated with the Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter.
The state government and Trafigura have each committed $2.5 million to Front End Engineering Design to accelerate the investment and jobs boom the project will deliver to the Port Pirie region.
South Australian Premier, Steven Marshall, said, “Since Trafigura became the majority owner of Nyrstar, we’ve been working together on how they could invest further in South Australia, and we are thrilled to unveil this world class project.
“This $750 million project is part of the ongoing transformation of South Australia into a producer of green hydrogen of global significance based on our outstanding renewable energy resources.
“My Government has dialed up the state’s intention to lead the way by achieving net 100 per cent renewables by 2030 and a 50 per cent cut to emissions by 2030.
“Projects like Trafigura’s will help South Australia achieve net 500 per cent renewable energy compared to current grid demand by 2050, as detailed in our Climate Change Action Plan.
“As the largest metal and second largest oil trader in the world, Trafigura is the class of company we want to invest here. It shows that our Hydrogen Action Plan is working to attract investment.”
The first stage would involve an 85MW electrolyser, creating hydrogen and oxygen by splitting water with renewable energy.
The oxygen would be used to supply around 20 per cent of the needs of the Port Pirie smelter, with the hydrogen converted to ammonia for export and use by shipping and domestic transport.
The second stage would involve a 440MW electrolyser supplying the entire oxygen needs of the smelter, and producing large amounts of ammonia for export while maintaining supply to the domestic market.
Dan Van Holst Pellekaan, Minister for Energy and Mining, siad, “I’m committed to bringing jobs to our region, and this project is a great opportunity for the people of Port Pirie and the Upper Spencer Gulf.
“The South Australian Government’s Hydrogen Action Plan will turn our world-class wind and sun resources into clean fuel to run shipping and trucking fleets, and power industry here and abroad.
“Our vision is a Renewable Energy Industrial Precinct in the Spencer Gulf – incorporating Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Whyalla and our world-class copper resources, to support jobs for generations to come.”
The project would allow other industries to be established at Port Pirie to make use of the available hydrogen and ammonia, whilst improving the competitiveness of the smelter.
Tim Rogers, General Manager of Trafigura in Australia, said, “We welcome this commitment from the South Australian Government to accelerate this project and look forward to working closely with the South Australian and Federal Governments to bring this project to reality.
“It’s testament to the Hydrogen Action Plan and the close collaboration we have developed.
“By integrating green hydrogen production with the existing smelter and port, paired with South Australia’s world-class renewables, we think this project stands out from the pack globally.”
“Through Nyrstar, we’re committed to the people of Port Pirie and the Upper Spencer Gulf and want to expand our presence and help attract new industries to the region.”
The South Australia Government is accelerating the Front End Engineering and Design for the project with a $2.5 million grant from the Jobs and Economic Growth Fund, to accelerate the project and firmly establish the state as a global leader in large scale green hydrogen production.
This project joins a list of hydrogen projects in South Australia, including H2U’s Eyre Peninsula Gateway project which has also been accelerated by the state government, and Australia’s largest operating green hydrogen facility, AGIG’s 1.25MW facility at Tonsley which is blending hydrogen into the existing gas network in nearby Mitchell Park.
