Australia commits funding to new LNG and hydrogen research centre

The Australian Government has committed to providing A$40m (24.7m) in financing to the Future Energy Exports (FEnEx) Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in Western Australia (WA).

Approximately $16m ($9.89m) of this funding will be allocated to the proposed microscale liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, which will form part of the LNG Futures Facility in Kwinana, WA.

The WA government will provide A$10m ($6.18m) over ten years and grant suitable land in the Kwinana industrial precinct in order to support the LNG Futures Facility development.

Meanwhile, the University of WA has committed up to A$15m ($9.27m) for the LNG Futures Facility.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said: “This major investment by the Federal and State governments’ further positions Western Australia as a global LNG hub, and has the potential to create up to 1,400 jobs.

“Through the LNG Jobs Taskforce, the state government is working in collaboration with industry to maximise local jobs in WA’s LNG industry.

“The facility will future-proof WA’s LNG industry and shows the world that Western Australia has the local talent and expertise to help shape the LNG jobs and operations of the future.

“As well as helping to sustain Western Australia’s position as a leading global LNG exporter, the facility will also position us to become the leading global hydrogen exporter, as markets and technology change over the coming decade.”

The proposed facility is expected to position WA as a key player in the development of novel technologies and processes, with the potential of creating up to 1,400 jobs.

The LNG Jobs Taskforce initiative is also supported by Chevron, Woodside, Shell, Santos, and Inpex, as well as The University of WA.

In November 2018, the Western Australian Government lifted the existing moratorium regarding fracking on existing onshore petroleum titles, following an independent scientific inquiry.

In March of the same year, WA announced plans to increase employment in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector.