S Australia, Trafigura table plan for 440-MW green hydrogen complex

The state government of South Australia has teamed up with Swiss commodities trading group Trafigura and its metals manufacturing subsidiary Nyrstar to jointly invest in the construction of a 440-MW green hydrogen plant in Port Pirie, Adelaide.

The proposed project is expected to require an investment of AUD 750 million (USD 535.9m/EUR 473.6m). If it gets the green light, construction works will begin in 2023, Trafigura said on Thursday.

The Swiss firm and the South Australian government are jointly financing the undertaking of an AUD-5-million front end engineering design (FEED) study for the scheme and expect to make a final investment decision by the end of next year. Studies on the proposal will begin immediately.

The electrolyser capacity is planned to be installed in phases and will initially produce 20 tonnes of green hydrogen daily. The output will be exported in the form of green ammonia. The full-scale complex will be capable of producing 100 tonnes per day, which will also help meet domestic supply needs.

The plant will be powered entirely by renewable electricity sourced by Trafigura. The oxygen from the green hydrogen production process will be used by Nyrstar Australia’s metals recovery smelter at Port Pirie.

“We are expecting significant early interest in becoming a part of the green hydrogen precinct with early potential for the region’s heavy vehicle transport industry to investigate hydrogen refuelling options," said Trafigura's general manager Australia, Tim Rogers.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.715/EUR 0.631)

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