The Northern Territory Government, as part of its next step to developing the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, has issued ‘not to deal’ commitments to five proponents over specific parcels of land at the precinct.
These commitments mean that their preferred sites in Middle Arm will be set aside for up to 12 months to provide each proponent confidence and certainty to continue developing their proposals.
Powered by renewables and lower-emissions energy, the precinct is being developed to attract industries that reflect what the Territory’s future economy will look like – including hydrogen, carbon capture, natural gas, advanced manufacturing and minerals processing.
Collectively, these projects represent tens of billions of dollars in capital investment, with the entire Middle Arm development creating around 20,000 jobs in the Territory.
The five proponents are:
- TEH2, 100 per cent owned by Total Eren – renewable energy: a global independent power producer, TEH2 is proposing to develop a green hydrogen production facility using solar energy with the capability of producing more than 80,000t of renewables-based hydrogen per annum for domestic and export potential
- Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) – renewable energy: the global green energy company is proposing to develop a green hydrogen hub, comprised of green hydrogen and green ammonia production and export facilities
- Tivan – critical minerals: Tivan is proposing to produce vanadium oxides through application of innovative downstream processing technology using feedstock sourced from Tivan’s Speewah and Mount Peake Projects; titanium dioxide and iron oxide also produced as by-products. Tivan is also working to facilitate an industrialisation pathway for vanadium redox flow batteries
- Tamboran Resources Limited – natural gas: a lower CO2 emissions liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility. Gas from this export facility will play an important role in the decarbonisation plans of local neighbours and trading partners in Asia and beyond
- Avenira – critical minerals: Avenira is proposing a lithium-ferro-phosphate (LFP) cathode manufacturing facility, which will manufacture pre cursor battery cathode materials from critical minerals, including phosphate sourced from the Wonarah Project in the Northern Territory
These companies will now progress their facility designs, engineering work and pre-feasibility studies and environmental approvals. They will be required to comply with all conditions set by the Northern Territory EPA as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment process for the precinct which is currently underway.
The Northern Territory is positioned to be a global leader in low-emissions energy export and critical minerals processing, taking advantage of our world-class solar and energy resources, and meeting strong international market demand to facilitate energy transition globally.
Middle Arm is attracting significant interest and will enable the development of an interconnected hydrogen industry and utilise carbon capture, to accelerate low emission industry development.
A carbon capture utilisation and storage hub as part of the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct will also be developed to mitigate emissions from existing and future natural gas processing, and will accelerate low-emission industry development, including hydrogen production.
Northern Territory Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles, said that Middle Arm is important for building the Territory’s future.
“I can give you 20,000 good reasons why this is important. This will create new, permanent, long-term jobs for the Territory, and that’s what matters to me. Clean energy jobs are the future, and that’s the future we’re building for the Territory,” Ms Fyles said.
“We’re absolutely committed to growing our economy while also transitioning to net zero emissions, and Middle Arm will play a huge part in that transition. This is what responsibly decarbonising and diversifying our economy looks like.
“We’ve always said that sustainability will be at the core of Middle Arm, and our focus on clean energy demonstrates that. An environmental strategic assessment is underway now for the entire precinct.
“A lot of nonsense gets spouted about Middle Arm, but today’s announcement shows the Territory, investors and the rest of the country just how committed my government is to making this a reality.”
Featured Image: Aerial view of Middle Arm industrial precinct. Image credit: Investment Territory.
