ASIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY
HUB
1299. Hon KEN BASTON to the minister representing the Minister for
State Development, Jobs and Trade:
I
refer to the ABC report titled ''World's largest renewable
energy project � ditches electricity in favour of ammonia exports'',
which was published online on 10 November.
(1) When did the Western
Australian government become aware that the project proposal was changing so significantly?
(2) Has the
minister or any other member of the government met with representatives of the
Asian Renewable Energy Hub project or InterContinental Energy to discuss the
new proposal?
(3) If yes to (2), on what dates
and who was present?
(4) Can the
minister advise whether they have provided any form of in-principle or conditional
support for the project's pivot to ammonium production?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the
question.
(1)–(4) We are in a time when energy technology is rapidly
changing and fortunately the McGowan government is alive to these changes and
is creating policies that respond to the new technologies. I first became aware
of the Asian Renewable Energy Hub project in October 2017, when it presented
its concept to export renewable energy by way of moving electrons via
subsea cable to Indonesia; we used to call it the ''Kuta cable''.
After we embarked on developing our hydrogen strategy, we again met with Asian
Renewable Energy Hub in 2018, when it advised that it was now considering
exporting renewable energy by way of hydrogen or ammonia.
The
Asian Renewable Energy Hub was granted lead agency status in July 2018. Since
then, the Department of Jobs, Tourism,
Science and Innovation, through the hydrogen unit, has been working closely
with the project proponents as they refine their project scope. The
proponents formally advised the department of the change in project scope in
October 2019, following feasibility studies conducted by the proponent during
2018–19 on the viability of the emerging green hydrogen/ammonia market.
I met with representatives of the Asian
Renewable Energy Hub on three occasions during the course of 2019 and it kept
us apprised of project developments to discuss the project and its changes and
expansion. I understand that Mr Brendan Hammond took on a role with AREH in
April 2020, and was present in that role at a subsequent meeting we had with
the company and its partners. Prior to that, he attended some meetings in his
role as chair of the Pilbara Development Commission.
Yes, of course we support the pivot,
as it is entirely aligned with our vision for renewable hydrogen. This project
is a fantastic opportunity for the Pilbara and, in fact, the state. Not only is
the proposed 26-gigawatt second stage expected to deliver around 5 000
construction jobs and 3 000 ongoing operational jobs, but also the proponents
are planning to make three gigawatts of energy available cheaply to Pilbara
users, therefore fundamentally transforming the energy sector in the state and
potentially unlocking significant local manufacturing opportunities.