Multi-billion-dollar H2-Hub Gladstone enters first phase

Hydrogen molecules on green background (aushets)
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A proposed multi-billion chemical complex producing green hydrogen and green ammonia is a step closer with a strategic partnership agreement initiating the first phase of the H2-Hub Gladstone project.

Acting Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles joined developer of green hydrogen infrastructure The Hydrogen Utility (H2U) and mining and infrastructure solutions provider Orica, in Gladstone for the announcement.

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“Commitments like this help to propel Central Queensland towards becoming a clean energy powerhouse, as part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery,” Miles said.

“I can also announce today the Coordinator-General has declared the H2-Hub Gladstone a Coordinated Project.

“H2U and Orica estimate the H2-Hub Gladstone project has potential to create over 550 jobs during construction, over 140 ongoing operational jobs and approximately 1,900 indirect jobs, and attract a $4.7 billion investment during its phased construction.

“H2U and Orica signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a master plan study to explore opportunities for an exclusive domestic green ammonia offtake and supply agreement.

“The potential agreement would see green ammonia supplied directly to Orica’s Yarwun manufacturing plant from H2U’s proposed Yarwun green ammonia production plant.”

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. It is expected that the proposed facility will use 100 per cent renewable energy from new-build solar and wind resources in the Queensland region.

H2U founder and CEO Attilio Pigneri said H2U was delighted to welcome Orica as a strategic offtake and development partner in the H2-Hub Gladstone project.

“We look forward to working with Orica, the Port of Gladstone, and the Queensland Government to establish Gladstone as a globally leading hub in the emerging green hydrogen and green ammonia export market, and to secure new long-term jobs and economic growth for Central Queensland,” Pigneri said.

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The master plan study will run for approximately six months with front-end engineering and development approval activities scheduled to commence at the back end of 2022.

The financial investment decision for the activation phase of development is scheduled by June 30, 2023. With the H2-Hub Gladstone scheduled for operational activity to begin in 2025, with the latter expansion phase to take place between 2027-2030.

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