BP has bought a big slice of the $US36 billion ($52.3 billion) Asian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH) in Western Australia’s Pilbara, putting the energy giant in the driver’s seat to bring the renewables and hydrogen project to fruition.

Despite the Morrison government last year blocking the green energy export project on environmental concerns, the British oil and gas major on Wednesday revealed it had taken a 40.5 per cent stake and would also become operator from July 1. A revised proposal would be submitted to deal with the environmental concerns. No price was disclosed.