ACADEMIC ATTACKS BURRUP HYDROGEN PLAN

Prof. John Black

GEOFF VIVIAN

An academic rock art expert described the planned hydrogen plant for Murujuga, the Burrup Peninsula, as “green washing”.

“They should not be destroying the vista of the rock art scenery and just cluttering up more and more of a beautiful area that is unique in the world, has our Aboriginal heritage, but is being cluttered by industrial infrastructure,” Prof. John Black said.

Yara Fertilisers has confirmed it will be partly powered by a plant made possible by almost $50 million in State and Federal funding.

However Prof Black said it would only produce about zero point four per cent of the energy needed by the Yara fertiliser plant.

“It’s just an example of saying: ‘we’re a big international company and we’re going to put these solar panels in the middle of your rock art but aren’t we so good! Because look, what we’re doing is producing hydrogen from renewable energy’,” Prof Black said.

He said the plant should be built at the Maitland Industrial estate, 20km from Murujuga.

“Nowhere else to we have 50-60,000 years of the history, the culture and the beliefs of mankind still visible today because it’s in these engraved rocks on Murujuga,” Prof Black said. “It is a very sacred place, and here what’s happening is it’s being filled up with all sorts of infrastructure.”

WA Regional Development minister Alannah MacTiernan, who issued a supportive statement after Yara’s Friday press conference, has been contacted for comment.

A Yara Fertilisers has contracted renewable energy company ENGIE to build the power plant.

ENGIE has been contacted for comment.