Proposed $4.7bn Gladstone green hydrogen & ammonia facility progresses

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in April of this year, the proposed H2-Hub^TM Gladstone has now entered the public consultation stage for the draft terms of reference for the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). 

The draft terms of reference prepared by the Coordinator-General highlight the matters to be considered by The Hydrogen Utility Pty Ltd (H2U) in preparing the EIS. 

“This is an exciting project for Central Queensland and for the state’s future as an emerging hydrogen superpower. 

“Queensland’s Coordinator-General has now released draft terms of reference for the H2-Hub^TM Gladstone project’s environmental impact statement, which means Queenslanders can comment. 

“This means Queenslanders can now comment on what will be considered during the project’s assessment,” Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said. 

The draft terms of reference is available for viewing until 13 September 2022 here. More information on how to have your say can also be found here. 

H2-Hub^TM Gladstone was also declared a coordinated project in April along with the announcement of H2U and Orica being strategic partners to initiate the delivery of the project’s first phase. 

The project is estimated to cost $4.7 billion to build and it is anticipated to create more than 550 jobs during construction – with up to 350 jobs at its peak – and a further 140 ongoing jobs once the facility is operational. 

The proposed green hydrogen and green ammonia production and export facility is proposed to be built in two stages. It is going to be located in Yarwun, within the Gladstone State Development Area. The new facility is expected to utilise 100 per cent renewable energy from newly built solar and wind resources in the State. 

“Projects like this help propel Queensland towards becoming a clean energy powerhouse. 

“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 all under active investigation by private sector proponents,” Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said. 

H2-Hub^TM Gladstone has a planned capacity of up to 3GW of electrolysis and about 5,000 tonnes of green ammonia production a day. 

Key features of the project include: 

• Production precinct – an industrial complex for the production of green hydrogen and ammonia located at Yarwun in the Gladstone State Development Area 
• Export precinct – co-located with existing ammonia storage and import facilities at Fisherman’s Landing Wharf at the Port of Gladstone 
• Product and logistics infrastructure corridor – linking production and export precincts 

“Proposed projects like this are highlighting the benefits of investing into Queensland’s regions and creating jobs for the future. 

“This project presents export opportunities for green ammonia at the Port of Gladstone, creating even more opportunities in Gladstone,” Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said. 

Subject to necessary approvals, the first stage of construction is expected to begin in 2023 with production to commence towards the end of 2025. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Queensland Government – State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning; Queensland Government – Have Your Say