The local government hosted a major forum of Japanese businesses and investors to promote green industry opportunities for Western Australia.
“Japan has played a pivotal role in helping to grow the industries that have driven Western Australia’s economic strength for the past 50 years,” Premier Roger Cook said.
“That trading partnership will be more important than ever as we establish the industries to keep our economy strong in decades to come.
“WA has the critical minerals, renewable energy and the skilled workforce to become a green energy superpower as the world moves to net zero.”
These projects could supply millions of tonnes of renewable hydrogen every year to Japan.
“That means more local jobs and a strong local economy into the future,” said Cook.
“My message to major Japanese businesses today is clear – WA is open for business.”
Japan is WA‘s second largest trading partner and the state’s largest LNG customer, accounting for 41 per cent of the state’s LNG exports.
The forum included representatives from BP Japan, CWP Global, JOGMEC, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Marubeni Corporation, Mitsui, Tokyo Gas and other leading industry players.
Current expansions and new lithium hydroxide projects – required for battery manufacturing – could see WA have up to 10 per cent of global refining capacity by 2024, rising to 20 per cent by 2027.
Major investments in rare earth processing facilities are also set to make WA one of the few jurisdictions outside of China offering export quantities of processed rare earths.
WA also has around 30 different gigawatt-scale renewable hydrogen projects in the pipeline, aiming to capitalise on the State’s world-class renewable energy potential.
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