Samsung C&T signs agreement to scope major green energy project in the Territory

Samsung C&T have chosen the Territory for a potential project promising jobs, investment, and to help establish the NT as a leading renewables hub.

Samsung C&T Engineering and Construction CEO Sechul Oh, consultant Bill Forwood and Chief Minister Natasha Fyles announce an MOU to develop a green energy project in the Northern Territory. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has signed a memorandum of understanding with a major South Korean construction and engineering company to develop a green energy project in the Northern Territory.

During the two-year agreement Samsung C&T Corporation Engineering & Construction will scope and investigate the feasibility of a large-scale renewable energy generation, transmission and storage project that could involve solar farms, wind, hydrogen and battery storage systems.

Part of the scoping exercise will be to find suitable locations, with the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct one of the options to be investigated.

Samsung C&T also intends to establish a substantial manufacturing hub as part of this project.

A working group comprised representatives from the company and the NT government will be established under the MOU.

“Samsung C&T is committed to global industry decarbonisation, leveraging the exceptional resources in the Northern Territory,” president and chief executive of Engineering and Construction Group Sechul Oh said.

“The MOU establishes a collaborative partnership for building a prime hub dedicated to green energy production.

“Together, we aim to decarbonise Australia and South Korea and contribute to the development of a sustainable economy.”

Ms Fyles said the agreement was a key step towards creating local jobs and helping the NT become a hub for low emissions sustainable manufacturing.

“Samsung knows what Territorians know, our solar irradiance and proximity to Asia makes this the ideal place to invest in a green energy future,” she said.

Consultant on the project Bill Forwood said while it was too early for many details, he expected “lots and lots” of investment to flow over the coming years.

“We wouldn’t be here doing this with the NT if we didn’t believe in the project,” he said.

Mr Forwood said whatever project developed would not be tapping into the Territory’s power grid.

“We have the capacity to build our own network to get the power from where it is created to the hub where we will be potentially doing other activities, so that’s our plan at the moment,” he said.

Originally published as Samsung C&T signs agreement to scope major green energy project in the Territory