Trafigura Plans to Build $750m Green Hydrogen Plant in Port Pirie
Port Pirie Regional Council is delighted with today’s announcement thatSwiss metals and oil tradingcompanyTrafigura Group isinvestigating optionsto build a $750million‘green’hydrogen plantinPort Pirie.
Today’s announcement thatTrafigura,which owns the Nyrstar lead smelter at Port Pirie,together withthe South Australian Governmenthave jointlyfunded$5 millionfor aFront End Engineering Design study for the Port Pirie Green HydrogenProject,was welcomed by Mayor Leon Stephens.
Mayor Stephens said the announcement and investigations, which will start immediately, reflects confidence in Port Pirie as a modern industrial regional city.
“On behalf of the Council and wider community I would like to thank Trafigura and the South Australian Government for co-funding and pursuing this study. I am hopeful that the project goes forward as it will provide many great benefits to our region. When we combine this opportunity with the raft of other recent exciting announcements, we see this as a step change for Port Pirie and our collective vision of a vibrant, modern industrial regional city.”
At an estimated design and construction cost of $750 million, if approved,the project would be built in stages and has a target date of 2025 for a first phase ofbeing able to produce 20 tonnes a day ofgreen hydrogen for export from anelectrolyser powered by renewable energy sources including solar and wind.The oxygen created in the production of hydrogen will be utilisedby the Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter.
Mayor Stephens concluded by stating that, “The employment opportunities and economic benefits that this project could provide to our community and the state are very positive and we are excited about the possibilities.
“Coupling this announcement with other renewable energy projects in our area supports the transformation of Port Pirie and the wider Upper Spencer Gulf region as a key economic powerhouse for the state and our significant role in helping to create a cleaner and greener future for our young people.”