The South Australian Government and Trafigura, one of the largest physical commodities trading groups in the world, have unveiled a landmark $750 million hydrogen project to be integrated with the Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter.

The South Australian Government and Trafigura have each committed $2.5 million to Front End Engineering Design to accelerate the investment and jobs boom the project will deliver to Port Pirie.

The project is part of the ongoing transformation of South Australia into a producer of green hydrogen of global significance based on the state's outstanding renewable energy resources.

The South Australian Government aims to achieve net-100% renewables by 2030 and a 50 per cent cut to emissions by 2030.

Trafigura’s hydrogen project, with the support of the South Australian and Federal Governments, will help South Australia achieve net 500% renewable energy compared to current grid demand by 2050, as detailed in the South Australian Government Climate Change Action Plan.

The first stage would involve an 85 megawatt electrolyser, creating hydrogen and oxygen by splitting water with renewable energy. The oxygen would be used to supply around 20 per cent of the needs of the Port Pirie smelter, and the hydrogen converted to ammonia for export and use by shipping, domestic transport and supporting the Port Pirie Industrial Precinct.

The second stage would involve a 440 megawatt electrolyser, supplying the entire oxygen needs of the smelter, and producing large amounts of ammonia for export while maintaining supply to the domestic market.

A vision of the South Australian Government is a Renewable Energy Industrial Precinct in the Spencer Gulf – incorporating Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Whyalla and our world-class copper resources, to support jobs for generations to come.

The Trafigura project would allow other industries to be established at Port Pirie to make use of the available hydrogen and ammonia, whilst improving the competitiveness of the smelter.

“We welcome this commitment from the South Australian Government to accelerate this project and look forward to working closely with the South Australian [and Federal] Governments to bring this project to reality. It is testament to the Hydrogen Action Plan and the close collaboration we have developed,” said Tim Rogers, General Manager of Trafigura in Australia.

“By integrating green hydrogen production with the existing smelter and port, paired with South Australia’s world-class renewables, we think this project stands out from the pack globally.”

“Through Nyrstar, we’re committed to the people of Port Pirie and the Upper Spencer Gulf and want to expand our presence and help attract new industries to the region.”

The Government of South Australia is accelerating the Front End Engineering Design for the project with a $2.5m grant from the Jobs and Economic Growth Fund, to accelerate the project and firmly establish South Australia as a global leader in large scale green hydrogen production.

This project joins a list of hydrogen projects in South Australia, including H2U’s Eyre Peninsula Gateway project which has also been accelerated by the South Australian Government, and Australia’s largest operating green hydrogen facility, AGIG’s 1.25 MW facility at Tonsley Innovation District which is blending hydrogen into the existing gas network in nearby Mitchell Park.

Port Pirie is also located 30 km across the Upper Spencer Gulf from Port Bonython, where seven shortlisted parties with projects worth ten’s of billions of dollars are currently negotiating land tenure as part of an expression of interest for a hydrogen hub.

Thursday 9 December 2021