PROVARIS’ project in the Tiwi Islands to develop a hydrogen production and export facility has advanced with several appointments across key workstreams.

The company said the appointments would lead to detailed project feasibility, land agreements and environmental approvals.

The company appointed based Lindsay Whiting to the Tiwi H2 project team as facilitation manager, to assist with the delivery of the project’s key milestones. He was previously manager of Port of Melville operations.

Provaris announced the further appointments of EcOz as lead environmental consultant for all territory and federal approvals, including the preparation of the required EIS submission in 2023, and CE Partners have been appointed as owner’s engineer to cover the detailed design of the renewable generation component of the project.

The Tiwi H2 project comprises the solar farm, battery energy storage system, substations and transmission line connection to the H2 production precinct.

Provaris executive director and chief development officer Garry Triglavcanin said, the appointments of EcOz and CE Partners are key in maturing the project through detailed design.

“The appointment of Lindsay Whiting is a welcome addition for the Tiwi H2 project team who provides the company with operating experience on the Tiwi Islands, and strong stakeholders relationship in the community,” Mr Triglavcanin said.

“Provaris continues to demonstrate its leadership in the development of an export hydrogen project with the commencement of an early-works program based on the development across technical, approvals and commercials, and in parallel we will seek to formalise key land agreements that can provide long-term benefits to the Tiwi community and the territory.”

Provaris managing director and CEO, Martin Carolan said the commencement of early works for the Tiwi Tiwi H2 project’s detailed design phase in 2023 is an important milestone for the company.

“Tiwi H2 is being positioned as an early supplier of commercial-scale volumes for the South-East Asia region,” he said.

“Our recent marketing trip to Japan and Singapore confirmed the region’s demand for a H2 import solution before 2030, whilst also increasing the awareness of compressed H2 as an alternative and commercially competitive carrier for H2 supported by a simple low-capex import infrastructure to establish supply chains for power generation and heat applications such as green steel.

“The development of the H2Neo carrier’s ‘first mover’ status for gaseous H2 remains on track for further milestones in 2022,” Mr Carolan said.