Provaris Energy Ltd (ASX:PV1) has maintained its ‘first mover status’ for export of green hydrogen from its proposed Tiwi H2 project, situated on the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory.
First exports remain a target for 2027, after the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) required an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project.
The requirement for an EIS, and statutory timelines, will now determine the project development related activities for Tiwi H2, including detailed engineering design work, agreements, solar and water monitoring, which will be scheduled to align with the EIS environmental approval process and timetable.
What's more, the scope of the EIS will be subject to the terms of reference scheduled for December 2022, which will also reset the Tiwi H2 development schedule to be amended to reflect the timing on an EIS process.
“Safe, sustainable and efficient supply chain”
Provaris executive director and chief development officer Garry Triglavcanin said: “With the NT EPA decision now made, the Tiwi H2 project will continue its development in a timeline aligned with the EIS approval process, with first exports still a target for 2027.
“Provaris is confident that the project will be developed using highest global standards to minimise the potential impacts identified by the EPA; that we view that key areas of focus on the environment can be properly addressed as part of the EIS process.
“The project will continue to be developed to demonstrate Tiwi H2 and compressed H2 as a safe, sustainable and efficient supply chain for exporting green hydrogen in a way that minimises environmental and social impacts.”
About the project
The Tiwi H2 project comprises the proposed development of a 100,000 tonnes per annum green hydrogen production and export facility on Melville Island, part of the Tiwi Islands, which is strategically located in the Northern Territory, Australia.
H2 Project comprises two distinct components, the first being the development of the “upstream hydrogen production” and the second being the “midstream hydrogen transport” to market.
The Tiwi H2 project was awarded of Major Project Status by the Northern Territory (NT) government, recognising the project as having significance and economic benefits to the Territory and the Traditional Owners of the Tiwi Islands.
Provaris managing director and CEO Martin Carolan said: “As anticipated for a project of this scale and location, the NT EPA has decided that an EIS is required.
“Provaris is confident that the EIS process will demonstrate that the Tiwi H2 will have a low environmental impact, given the availability of an existing deep-water port infrastructure, existing plantation land that is substantially cleared of native vegetation, and the advantages of compressed H2 eliminating the requirement for complex and energy intensive facilities."
Forward plan
While the final EIS timetable is being finalised, Provaris will continue to advance Tiwi H2 from concept design through to the phases of detailed design, engineering and approvals to ensure the project maintains its position as an early mover in the export of green hydrogen from Australia.
In conjunction with the development activities to maintain the Tiwi H2 project’s first mover status, Provaris is advancing a partner process to seek interested groups in the areas of investment, offtake, construction and operational support to jointly develop the project.
Carolan added: “The Tiwi H2 project will bring significant benefits to the local community, including skilled employment opportunities, support in power and drinking water, upgrading road infrastructure – all in line with the Tiwi leaders’ vision ‘to create an economy, with real jobs for the current and next generation of the Tiwi people’.”