Queensland residents are now able to have their say on the H2-Hub™ Gladstone proposal to develop a $4.7 billion green hydrogen and green ammonia production and export facility at Yarwun, near Gladstone.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Steven Miles, said the Queensland Government was facilitating investment to create secure jobs in traditional and emerging industries like hydrogen.
“This is an exciting project for Central Queensland and for the state’s future as an emerging hydrogen superpower,” Mr Miles said.
“Queensland’s Coordinator-General has now released draft terms of reference for the H2-Hub Gladstone project’s environmental impact statement (EIS).
“This means Queenslanders can now comment on what will be considered during the project’s assessment,” Mr Miles said.
“H2U estimates the project will create over 550 jobs during construction, with up to 350 jobs during the peak construction phase, and 140 ongoing operational jobs.
“I announced in April that the project had been declared a coordinated project and that H2U and Orica had made a strategic partnership agreement to initiate the project’s first phase. This is another step forward.”
The H2-Hub Gladstone project has a planned capacity of up to 3GW of electrolysis and up to 5,000 tonnes per day of green ammonia production.
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, said the H2U facility is expected to use 100 per cent renewable energy from new-build solar and wind resources in the Queensland region.
“Projects like this help to propel Queensland towards becoming a clean energy powerhouse,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Throughout the state, we are seeing enormous activity because Queensland could have as much as 40 per cent of Australia’s hydrogen production by 2040.
“Domestic projects are being worked on from the tip of Cape York to the New South Wales border and our east coast ports such as Townsville, Hay Point and Brisbane are all under active investigation by private sector proponents.”
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Member for Gladstone, Glenn Butcher, said Central Queensland was establishing itself as a renewables powerhouse.
“Proposed projects like this are highlighting the benefits of investing into Queensland’s regions and creating jobs for the future,” Mr Butcher said.
“This project presents export opportunities for green ammonia at the Port of Gladstone, creating even more opportunities in Gladstone.”
Hydrogen Utility (H2U) is proposing a two-stage development to create a major new industrial hub in the Gladstone State Development Area with export infrastructure at Fisherman’s Landing Wharf – Port of Gladstone.
Subject to approvals, H2U proposes to begin stage-one construction in 2023 with production commencing towards the end of 2025.
The public can have their say on the EIS’s draft terms of reference until 5pm on 13 September 2022.
For Project this to have the maximum effect on the Queensland economy these projects should be largely sourcing materials and equipment from Queensland businesses.