Hydrogen hub will put Mid West on world map

The Mid West will be a world-class hydrogen production hub within four years, according to Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan. She said more than 65 companies — including at least 10 from energy “super majors”, which usually refers to global giants such as Shell, Chevron and ExxonMobil — had formally expressed interest in producing and exporting renewable hydrogen from the Oakajee industrial area. The expressions of interest came from Australia, China, Japan, Korea, India, Germany, Spain, the UK, France and the US. Ms MacTiernan said 16 per cent of the parties indicated interest in developing and financing an entire supply chain encompassing Oakajee as a strategic renewable hydrogen production and export hub. She said others expressed interest in supplying sections of the supply chain. These included technology, key water and power utilities, manufacturing key components, or financing this emerging industry. Expressions will now be considered by the WA Government via the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, working closely with the Mid West Development Commission, Mid West Ports Authority and DevelopmentWA, which owns the Oakajee site. “We’ve already had some discussions with some of the bigger proponents,” Ms MacTiernan said in Geraldton yesterday. “Over the next three to four months we’ll be working very hard to see what will be the basic investment in headworks (infrastructure) that Government will have to do to take it to the next step.” Ms MacTiernan said Commonwealth funding would likely be needed to make some of the proposals viable, but the hydrogen plan developed under the Turnbull government made her confident this would be forthcoming. She said WA renewable hydrogen strategy goals had been brought forward from 2040 to 2030, with the McGowan Government investing $28 million in renewable hydrogen development in the State. The Government says Oakajee, 23km north of Geraldton, has abundant wind and sunshine, making it ideal for the production of renewable hydrogen for domestic and commercial use, manufacturing and export. Ms MacTiernan also said work on Geraldton Port’s Wharf 4 strengthening and rail replacement project would start next month after Perth engineering company Fortec Australia won the tender. She said this would create up to 40 local construction jobs and involve 17 local sub contractors. Wharf 4 — constructed in 1965 — is the primary export wharf for mineral sands, talc and concentrates from Geraldton Port. Ms MacTiernan also announced $20,000 for Geraldton Yacht Club to go towards a “staging plan” to upgrade boat pens within Batavia Coast Marina.