Provaris Energy Ltd has announced that the Northern Territory (NT) Government has awarded the Tiwi H2 project Major Project Status. Tiwi H2 is an integrated compressed green hydrogen production and export development producing up to 100,000 tonnes per annum of green hydrogen for export into the Asia Pacific region.
Provaris Managing Director Martin Carolan said the NT Government’s endorsement of the Tiwi H2 project is another significant milestone for Provaris as the company moves forward with their development.
“Major Project Status will deliver the project access to coordinated and streamlined Government agency support for future approvals and assistance with Federal Government agencies. Today’s announcement supports the Territory’s vision to be recognised as a leader in the transition to the green hydrogen economy,” Carolan stated.
According to Provaris Energy, the NT Government’s Major Project Status award is given to projects it recognises as having significance, strategic impact, and potential benefits to the State. The benefits of Major Project Status, Provaris Energy said, include full government support, coordination and facilitation, assistance in identifying and mapping regulatory approvals, a dedicated project case manager, and facilitation of engagement with the Australian Government.
“Tiwi H2 is an exciting renewables project – it not only further diversify our economy, but also strongly position the Northern Territory as a key location for renewable hydrogen production. Establishing the Territory as a leader in the new energy economy means more opportunity for Territorians and Territory businesses – this sector will only continue to grow moving forward,” Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles commented.
Provaris and the NT Government have entered into a Project Facilitation Agreement (PFA) as part of the Major Project Status award to cooperate in developing the Tiwi H2 project as quickly, efficiently, and effectively as possible and to maximise the economic and community benefit for the Northern Territory.
The Tiwi H2 project, according to Provaris, is in line with the Territory’s Renewable Hydrogen Master Plan, which gives a framework for developing a renewable hydrogen industry with a focus on enabling activities necessary to attract private sector investment.
Provaris said the project intends to use solar energy to produce up to 100,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per annum for export markets, using the company’s GH2 Carriers for shipping compressed hydrogen gas to the Asia Pacific region. The company adds that the project is expected to generate 500 jobs during construction and 100 jobs once operations begin, with a project life of more than 30 years.
“We look forward to a continuation of the support provided by the Major Projects team to advance the Tiwi H2 project which has identified the project as having significant future economic and social benefits to the Territory and traditional owners of the Tiwi Islands,” Provaris Chief Development Officer Garry Triglavcanin stated.
According to Provaris, the Tiwi Islands location provides the company’s compressed hydrogen delivery model with several advantages, including existing port infrastructure at Port Melville, an existing port industrial area for hydrogen production, and a location along the most north-western part of Australia. These factors, Provaris said, give the Tiwi H2 project a significant competitive advantage for exporting compressed green hydrogen to the Asia Pacific region, including potential markets in Singapore, South Korea, and Japan.
