Whyalla City Council is confident Whyalla is well placed to become one of Australia’s leading hydrogen hubs, following a number of recent briefings with senior Federal Government ministers.
Mayor Clare McLaughlin and CEO Justin Commons met with Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor, as well the senior advisor to Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter, to discuss the significant potential of our region.
Mayor McLaughlin said one of the key topics of discussion was securing Federal Government support for the Heavy Industry Low-Carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC).
“This CRC will focus on technology that will enable the decarbonisation of heavy industry, with Whyalla earmarked as one of the regional hubs that will be key to its success,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
“We had very constructive conversations with key Federal Government ministers and their advisors, and remain very optimistic that their support of HILT CRC will be forthcoming, as it aligns perfectly with the Federal Government’s Technology Investment Roadmap and ‘technology not taxes’ mantra.”
Mayor McLaughlin said Whyalla and Port Bonython had all the necessary ingredients to support both the Federal and State Governments’ carbon-neutral aspirations.
“Federal Government commitment to the HILT CRC and confirmation of Port Bonython as a designated national hydrogen hub would be 'music to our ears’,” she said.
“This would not only enable the supply of hydrogen to decarbonise local heavy industry – including assisting GFG Alliance to achieve its Green Steel ambitions – but also open the door to national and global markets for hydrogen exports.
“We will therefore continue to advocate to the Federal Government on the importance of the HILT CRC, with the aim of securing the Whyalla region as one of the nation’s leading hydrogen centres of excellence.”
Media enquiries: Sean Kelly 0411 054 643; sean.kelly@whyalla.sa.gov.au
Mayor Clare McLaughlin is pictured with Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor