Provaris Energy makes multiple new appointments for development of Tiwi H2 project

Provaris Energy (ASX: PV1) has appointed Darwin-based business identity Lindsay Whiting to the role of facilitation manager for its Tiwi H2 project in the Northern Territory.

Mr Whiting has a long-established family relationship with the local Munupi clan and is a product of the Pirlangimpi community.

He was born in Darwin and has extensive experience in the construction industry, predominantly in remote regions of northern Australia.

He has also spent many years in the maritime industry in land and sea-based roles including manager of the Port Melville facility on the Tiwi Islands, pilot boat master and port facility security officer.

Mr Whiting’s appointment provides the Tiwi H2 project with an advantage in stakeholder engagement activities as he will be able to assist the development and execution of various land agreements which will provide future economic, employment and social benefits to the Munupi clan and Tiwi community.

Environmental appointments

Provaris has appointed EcOz as lead environmental consultant for the project’s Territory and federal approvals including the preparation of an environmental impact assessment submission in 2023.

Australian energy consultancy CE Partners has been engaged as Provaris’ engineer responsible for detailed design of the renewable generation component of the project comprising the solar farm, battery energy storage system, substations and transmission line connection to the H2 production precinct.

Provaris is continuing to assess available electrolysis technologies suitable for the precinct, which will integrate with water desalination and compression to load and store hydrogen directly into the company’s H2Neo carriers.

CE’s scope includes early-works for ground survey and geotechnical assessments, and will be advancing the solar precinct towards a 30% design level package by late-2023.

The company will also seek construction proposals and selection of a preferred EPC (engineering procurement and construction) contractor in early 2024.

Darwin-based legal advisor WardKeller has been appointed to assist with drafting and negotiating various land agreements relating to the Tiwi H2 project.

Tracking well

Provaris chief executive officer Martin Carolan said the company was tracking well on the project.

“The commencement of early works for the detailed design phase is an important milestone as we continue to demonstrate our commitment to developing a hydrogen export project from Northern Australia,” he said.

“Tiwi H2 is being positioned as an early supplier of commercial-scale volumes for the South-East Asia region the status of H2Neo carriers as ‘first-movers’ for the transport of gaseous hydrogen remains on track.”