Hydrogen to fuel Gladstone jobs bonanza
By The Queenslander staff
A hydrogen and ammonia-producing plant coming to Gladstone will create nearly 2,600 jobs and propel central Queensland to becoming what the state government calls a “clean energy powerhouse”.
The H2-Hub Gladstone project will produce green hydrogen, with a capacity of up to 3 gigawatts of electrolysis and up to 5,000 tonnes of green ammonia per day.
The $4.7 billion project is another step closer after a strategic partnership agreement between developer of green hydrogen infrastructure The Hydrogen Utility (H2U) and mining and infrastructure solutions provider Orica, signed in April.
The potential agreement would see green ammonia supplied directly to Orica’s Yarwun manufacturing plant from H2U’s proposed Yarwun green ammonia production plant.
Acting Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said the project was an important jobs provider and part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery post COVID-19 pandemic.
“Commitments like this help to propel Central Queensland towards becoming a clean energy powerhouse, as part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery,” Mr Miles said.
“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 Founder and chief executive Attilio Pigneri said securing Orica as a strategic offtake and development partner was a “huge vote of confidence” for the project and Gladstone.
“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,” he said.
H2U and Orica have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a master plan study to explore opportunities for an exclusive domestic green ammonia offtake and supply agreement.
The master plan study is expected to run for six months. Activities are scheduled to commence by the end of 2022.