Collie will be in the national spotlight when ambitious plans to use local coal to make premium hydrogen and synthetic diesel are highlighted at an upcoming major national conference.
Collie Synfuels managing director Costa Tsesmelis will provide an overview of its Collie project at the inaugural Australian Hydrogen Energy Summit taking place in Melbourne over March 26 and 27.
The event will examine the commercialisation of hydrogen technology for Australia’s energy future, with Mr Tsesmelis focusing his presentation on the coal-to-hydrogen stream of the Collie Flagship Project.
Currently in the study phase, Mr Tsesmelis said the carbon capture and storage-linked project could see commercial quantities of premium hydrogen transported to the WA market to power hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Mr Tsesmelis said Collie was an ideal location for basing the proposed operations, which would involve the establishment of a plant at Shotts Industrial Park.
“Collie has abundant good quality coal that can be used as a feedstock for coal gasification that can provide a myriad of value-add products,” Mr Tsesmelis said.
“The coal is there. It’s a tremendous resource.
“We want to provide jobs and a plant like this would be an incredible boost to jobs.”
The project received funding from the Collie Futures Small Grants program to undertake two feasibility studies.
Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray said he was proud to see funding given to projects that will diversify Collie’s economy.
“I’m proud to see this funding effectively taking projects to the next level, diversifying the local economy and contributing to Collie’s future through the generation of new opportunity,” Mr Murray said.
“I’m excited to see this project taking form with Collie Synfuels vision one that will greatly benefit Collie and WA.
“By backing projects like this one that will diversify and strengthen the economy, we aim to create a broader range of jobs for local people.”
