Western Australian (WA) Premier Roger Cook has hosted the Energy and Resources Forum in Japan to showcase WA’s green industry prospects.
Japan is the second-largest trading partner and largest LNG customer in WA, accounting for 41% of the State’s LNG exports.
Representatives from BP Japan, CWP Global, JOGMEC, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Marubeni Corporation, Mitsui, Tokyo Gas, and other prominent industry players attended the forum.
Through the forum, Premier Cook underscored the significant potential of WA in industries that are crucial for achieving global decarbonisation goals.
“The trading partnership will be more important than ever as we establish the industries to keep our economy strong in decades to come,” Premier Cook said.
“WA has the critical minerals, renewable energy and the skilled workforce to become a green energy superpower as the world moves to net zero,” the Premier added.
According to the WA Government, current expansions and new lithium hydroxide projects, which are essential for battery manufacturing, could result in the State having up to 10% of world refining capacity by 2024, rising to 20% by 2027.
Significant investments in rare earth processing infrastructure will also position WA as one of the jurisdictions outside China able to export large amounts of processed rare earths.
The State also has approximately 30 gigawatt-scale renewable hydrogen projects in the works, intending to capitalise on WA’s renewable energy potential.
The State Government noted that the projects have the potential to supply millions of tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually to Japan.
The forum is held on the second day of the Premier and Deputy Premier’s trade mission to Japan, aimed at boosting trade and tourism in WA.
