Former Oil Search managing director Peter Botten has been appointed chairman of Nasdaq-listed solar developer Vast Renewables ahead of a final decision on whether to proceed with two major projects in South Australia this year.

The company, which was founded by Sydney’s billionaire Kahlbetzer family and now counts among its investors France’s EDF, listed on the Nasdaq in December after merging with Nabors Energy Transition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company.