The Western Australian (WA) Government has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), expanding collaboration to new and renewable energies.
Hydrogen Industry Minister Alannah MacTiernan hosted the signing of the MoU at the Australian Hydrogen Conference (West).
“The WA Government has invested around $170 million to help ensure Western Australia reaches its potential and becomes a global exporter of renewable hydrogen,” Minister MacTiernan said.
Minister MacTiernan added that international partnership is critical for establishing markets for renewable hydrogen produced in WA and securing investment in local initiatives.
WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation Director General Rebecca Brown and JOGMEC Chairman Tetsuhiro Hosono inked the MoU.
The MOU, which focuses on new and renewable energies, expands the State’s work with JOGMEC, which inked an MoU with the WA Government in 2020 to improve collaboration in metal and mineral resources.
Energy Minister Bill Johnston said the recently announced MoU with JOGMEC builds on an MoU inked in 2020 to promote the reliable supply of mineral resources to Japan and Japanese investment in WA.
“Through strengthening relationships with international partners like JOGMEC, the WA Government is helping to ensure the State embraces opportunities that emerge as economies around the world decarbonise,” Minister Johnston stated.
The MoU covers hydrogen, methanation, carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon dioxide capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), ammonia, decarbonisation, and low-emission technologies.
State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister Roger Cook said the State Government is dedicated to diversifying the State’s economy and giving Western Australians access to future employment.
“Focusing on new and renewable energies, the new MoU with JOGMEC shows the doors that will potentially open for Western Australia as we continue to diversify and transition to net zero emissions by 2050,” Minister Cook stated.
With $33 billion in products traded in 2021-22, Japan is WA’s second-largest trading partner.
Petroleum (including LNG) was WA’s most significant export to Japan in 2021-22, increasing by 97 per cent to $16.5 billion.
Japan was WA’s second-largest export market for iron ore, nickel ore, and canola seeds in 2021-22, and its third-largest market for copper ore.
 Government has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), expanding collaboration to new and renewable energies.){kind=link}