Honey roasts hydrogen promise

WA Liberal leader David Honey has labelled a proposed $117.5 million effort to establish two hydrogen hubs in the Pilbara and Mid-West an “embarrassing pipedream.”

The scathing comments came in response to the WA government’s appeal to the commonwealth to match a cornerstone investment into renewable energy projects in the state through the Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hubs programme.

The bid is hoped to attract federal funding and establish WA as a "clean energy powerhouse" but the shadow minister has criticised what he says is a "lack of planning" and "inadequate" funding for the proposal. 

“Labor has again failed to secure the opportunity for our state to transition from being a world-leading LNG exporter to become a world–class future clean-energy supplier,” the shadow minister said.

“Their 11th hour proposal for $235 million joint federal and state funding for Oakajee and the Pilbara hydrogen hubs shows an embarrassing lack of planning.”

The state government said the investment, announced today, aimed to attract further federal funding for proposed hydrogen hubs in the Pilbara and Mid-West.

It said the bids had been supported by major resources industry players including Woodside Petroleum, Fortescue Future Industries, BP Australia and ATCO Australia.

“The Pilbara Hydrogen Hub plan involves development of a hydrogen or ammonia pipeline connecting the Maitland and Burrup strategic industrial areas, creation of a Clean Energy Training and Research Institute based out of both Karratha and Port Hedland, and port upgrades to facilitate export opportunities,” the state government detailed in its announcement.

But the shadow minister said the investment was too little too late and likened Oakajee -a planned heavy industrial area in the Mid-West flagged to form part of the hub – to an “overgrown paddock.”

“Currently, Oakajee in the Mid-West is an overgrown paddock and whatever is Labor’s plan for a Hydrogen Hub in the Pilbara is still a pipedream – yet to be detailed in any way at all,” he said.

“It’s a desperate, inadequate and belated attempt to act on green hydrogen after driving potential projects both interstate and overseas.”.

The WA government’s funding application has been submitted this week.