Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion has met with Singapore-headquartered Trafigura – the company that owns Nyrstar, the operators of the Port Pirie multi-metals facility – to explore plans for a green hydrogen manufacturing facility in South Australia.
The full-scale facility would be able to supply both the domestic and foreign markets with 100 tonnes of green hydrogen per day from a 440-megawatt electrolyser, the SA government said in a news release.
The Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter would use the oxygen produced during the hydrogen generation process.
Additionally, the project’s electrolyser would be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity, which would help the facility’s power source become less carbon-intensive.
In the workforce segment, the proposed initiative might significantly boost the state’s economy and create jobs in the hydrogen manufacturing industry.
The state government said it used a $2.5 million grant from the Jobs and Economic Development Fund to speed up the Front-End Engineering Design for the project.
It added a net zero future requires significantly increased production and refining of aluminium, copper and zinc to build wind, and solar farms and support other critical infrastructure.
“We’re committed to working with major investors in South Australia to provide pathways to deliver game-changing economic benefits,” said Minister Champion.
He continued, “South Australia is already a leader in renewable energy and is well on its way towards becoming a global leader in green hydrogen.”
The minister also pointed out that the initiative will create jobs for South Australians in a variety of fields, both in the short and long term.
Meanwhile, Trafigura Head of Products Trading Alex Garas said the company is pleased to be working with the South Australian Government on opportunities to produce and use green hydrogen.
“We also are working together to explore increased critical and strategic metal extraction at Port Pirie,” Garas added.
