The McGowan Government has welcomed a contribution of $40 million to the Future Energy Exports Cooperative Research Centre by the Commonwealth Government.
At least $16 million of the Australian Government funding announced today will be allocated to the planned world-first microscale LNG plant that will form part of the LNG Futures Facility in Kwinana.
In April 2019, the Premier was joined by industry leaders and the University of Western Australia in Shanghai to announce the microscale LNG plant at the 19th International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG19).
The State Government is providing $10 million over 10 years and granting suitable land in the Kwinana industrial precinct to support the development of the LNG Futures Facility. The University of Western Australia has committed up to $15 million for the Facility.
The Facility will position WA as a global leader in the development and testing of new technologies and processes, with the potential to create up to 1,400 jobs.
The industry-led initiative is a priority of the LNG Jobs Taskforce. Feasibility and engineering studies for the LNG Futures Facility have been backed by The University of Western Australia, Chevron, Shell, Hyundai Heavy Industries and National Energy Resources Australia (NERA).
The LNG Jobs Taskforce is a collaboration between the State Government and LNG industry to maximise local jobs in WA's LNG industry. It is creating new opportunities for industry on the back of WA's competitively priced gas supply and position as a global LNG hub servicing Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Chaired by the Premier, the taskforce includes Chevron, Woodside, Shell, Santos and Inpex, as well as representatives from APPEA and UnionsWA.
The LNG Futures Facility will enable LNG companies, contractors, service providers and small to medium businesses to test and refine new processes in a live plant environment, and is expected to have a capacity of 10 tonnes of LNG a day.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"The Commonwealth contribution is a welcome boost to the LNG Futures Facility which is set to turn Western Australia into a global leader in developing and testing new LNG technologies and processes.
"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."
