Hydrogen Announcement Game Changing
City of Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin is extremely encouraged by the interest in Whyalla as a hydrogen hub, believing Labor’s recent $593m announcement could be “game-changing” for Whyalla’s future.
“This level of commitment by Labor would create the long-awaited diversification of our economy and give us a far more stable, secured future,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
“These large-scale projects would also lead to a growing Whyalla population, more jobs and increased education pathways.
“Over the next decade, we believe Whyalla can be at the epicentre of global green hydrogen development, helping Australia achieve net zero emissions by 2050.”
If elected, Labor will build a hydrogen power station, electrolyser and storage facility, all to be located in the Whyalla-Port Bonython area and anticipated to create hundreds of ongoing jobs.
Mayor McLaughlin said this announcement aligned perfectly with the city’s other major industry – the Whyalla Steelworks.
“We know Sanjeev Gupta and his GFG Alliance Whyalla team are pushing ahead to use green hydrogen to produce green steel here in Whyalla, so this plant would help make that a more feasible opportunity,” she said.
“This would be an evolutionary step for heavy industry and Whyalla, significantly improving environmental outcomes while equating to better standards of living, improved essential services and vastly improved amenities.
“Other businesses will also likely seek to relocate their operations to Whyalla to more easily access green hydrogen and strengthen their green credentials.”
Mayor McLaughlin said it was “welcoming and encouraging” that both Labor and Liberal recognised the critical importance green hydrogen will play in the state and nation’s green future.
“With bipartisan support at both Federal and State levels to establish Whyalla as a green hydrogen hub, Council is looking forward to working with the parties that form government to make this vision a reality,” she said.
Read Labor's press release regarding this announcement here
Find out more about City of Whyalla’s
South Australian election priorities
Artist's Impression of Labor's proposed $593m hydrogen power station (Image from Labor's Hydrogen Jobs Plan)