FIRST NATIONS CONSULTATION UNDERWAY FOR PILBARA HYDROGEN HUB
BY TANGIORA HINAKI AND GERARD MAZZA
The Port of Dampier. Credit: Pilbara Ports Authority.
The Federal Minister for Climate and Energy says consultation has begun with Traditional Custodians on the locations of key components of the planned Pilbara Hydrogen Hub.
State and federal governments announced on Monday they would each contribute $70 million to the development of hydrogen production and export facilities, as well as an accompanying training centre, in the Pilbara region.
Minister for Climate and Energy Chris Bowen told Ngaarda Media the developments would involve upgrades to ports in Hedland and Dampier, a pipeline through Karratha and Murujuga/the Burrup Peninsula, and other facilities to be determined.
Mr Bowen said resources companies would soon bid to be involved.
“All the big companies that are currently involved in the Pilbara, we expect to be interested, and are interested, and are talking to us about it,” he said.
“All these companies are on a journey. They know they’ve got to decarbonise for the best interest of the planet and as their consumer and investors are demanding.”
Mr Bowen said First Nations groups in the Pilbara were being consulted on the project.
“The state government’s been talking very closely with the five language groups particularly around Karratha,” he said.
“We’re making it clear that, before any final pipeline route gets approved, we’ll have agreements with Traditional Owners.”
The Murujuga rock art near the Port of Dampier is currently nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Listing.
Rock-art advocacy group Friends of Australian Rock Art (FARA) released a statement in response to the joint government announcement, saying it had concerns about plans for further industrialisation of Murujuga.
FARA spokesperson Judith Hugo said: “We are deeply concerned that this proposal may result in further damage to the heritage values of the Burrup Peninsula, through further industrialisation, and perpetuating the existing gas processing industries that are causing ongoing damage to the globally unique Murujuga rock art.
“We are supportive of renewable hydrogen industries, but there can be no further industry on the Burrup, and no more developments that perpetuate and extend the life of existing dirty industry located there.”
Mr Bowen said the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub plans were consistent with a WA state government commitment that no further industrial lots would be developed at Murujuga.
“It’s good for the area, good for jobs,” he said. “We’re not taking old style heavy industry, we’re talking jobs for the future.”
FARA also raised concerns about what type of hydrogen would be developed. ‘Green’ hydrogen is made from renewable energy, while ‘blue’ hydrogen is made from gas, which is a fossil fuel.
Mr Bowen said he expected green hydrogen to “be dominant,” but left the door open to some blue hydrogen development.
“They can put in a bid to say they’ve got carbon capture and storage, but it will need to be a very solid and proven process for them to do that,” he said.
“I do think green hydrogen will be dominant around the world, including in the Pilbara.”
Ms. Hugo sad: “It is unclear if the Cook Government’s Hydrogen Hub will be powered by green renewable energy, in line with the WA Government’s renewable Hydrogen Strategy, or will be just another way to greenwash Woodside’s dirty gas operations by making dirty blue hydrogen from fossil gas processed at the Burrup Hub.”
Listen to an interview with Federal Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen: