Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 10, HIF Global, a Houston-based e-Fuels company, announced plans to establish the HIF Tasmania e-Fuels Facility at the former Burnie Paper Mill site in South Burnie. The decision revitalizes one of Tasmania’s historic industrial sites and supports the state’s goal of becoming a leader in renewable energy. The facility is designed to produce more than 200,000 tons of e-Methanol annually, creating several hundred jobs during construction and about 200 permanent positions once operations begin.

The HIF Tasmania project was first revealed in July 2022, with an initial plan to locate the facility at a sustainable forestry plantation in Hampshire, 30 kilometers south of Burnie. After extensive project engineering, design work, and site assessment, the company concluded that the former Pulp Mill site offers greater advantages. Its industrial infrastructure, capacity for cost-saving modularization, and direct port access make it a more suitable location for such a large-scale renewable energy initiative. In parallel, HIF Global is also building an e-Methanol plant in Brazil.

Ignacio Hernandez, CEO of HIF Asia Pacific, said: “Burnie’s industrial heritage and deepwater port make the old Pulp Mill site the ideal location. Relocating here allows us to bring employment back to this historic site while enabling efficient delivery of large equipment and sustainable use of local resources, such as recycled wastewater from Round Hill Sewage Treatment Plant.”

He added: “We are especially keen to hear from as many people as possible over the coming months so that we can build their feedback into our design. Very soon we will advertise community events where local people can come and ask us questions.”

Ian Jones, President of Business North West, emphasized the importance of the project: “The Pulp site is hugely significant to Burnie and has sat idle and rusting for far too long. I have followed the progress of this project very closely over the last three years and believe this is a golden opportunity for the town to be at the forefront of a new, emerging industry.”

HIF Asia Pacific intends to file a formal Notice of Intent with the Tasmanian Environmental Protection Agency in the coming weeks, followed by a Development Application in 2026. If approved, operations could begin as early as 2030.

The facility will produce e-Fuels using renewable electricity to power electrolyzers that separate hydrogen from water. The hydrogen will then be combined with recycled carbon dioxide from plantation residues to create e-Methanol, a synthetic fuel. This product can be used in shipping or further converted into e-Fuels for aviation, automobiles, and trucks.

With this development, HIF Global seeks to combine technological innovation with community engagement, ensuring the project contributes to regional employment, economic growth, and the advancement of renewable energy solutions.