Hydrogen and water offices dissolved as SA government shifts duties to departmentTopic:Hydrogen Fuel1h ago1 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 8:28amThe site earmarked for a $600 million hydrogen power plant in Whyalla stands vacant. (ABC News: Brant Cumming)In short:Offices created by the state government for hydrogen and water projects are being dissolved and responsibilities shifted to the Department for Mining and Energy.Opposition leader Vincent Tarzia says the projects themselves now "lie in tatters".But Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis says the government remains strongly committed to both over the long term.abc.net.au/news/sa-government-hydrogen-office-dissolved/105239980Link copiedShareShare articleThe South Australian government has denied a decision to dissolve a standalone office for hydrogen signals a lack of commitment to the fuel source over the long term — but the opposition says it shows the plan now lies "in tatters".The Office of Hydrogen Power South Australia was created to carry out the state government's pre-election promise to build a hydrogen power station and electrolyser near Whyalla.SA government shelves hydrogen power projectPhoto shows A green sign for Hydrogen Power SA erected on a vacant arid site in WhyallaThe SA government's plan to build a major hydrogen electrolyser and power plant near Whyalla has been scrapped, with the premier blaming the lack of progress on a plan for green steel at the local steelworks for the decision.But in a statement to parliament, Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the office would "cease to function" and that its responsibilities would be transferred to the Department for Energy and Mining.The Office of Northern Water Delivery, which has overseen plans for a 260-megalitre desalination plant on Eyre Peninsula, will similarly be discontinued and will also have its functions absorbed by the department.The Whyalla hydrogen plant was one of Labor's major 2022 election promises — an almost $600 million project which, the party said, would lead to more jobs, cheaper power and less carbon emissions.But the proposed hydrogen plant was effectively scrapped earlier this year, and the funds were diverted into a joint federal-state $2.4 billion support package when the Whyalla steelworks were forced into administration.An artist's impression of the now shelved hydrogen proposal. (YouTube: Energy and Mining SA)But Mr Koutsantonis said the long-term need for a hydrogen production facility had not changed."Ultimately, one day you will need to have a hydrogen facility to decarbonise steel," he said."That'll depend entirely on who purchases the steelworks, what their time frames are for investment in direct iron reduction and [an] electric arc furnace."The fate of hydrogenPhoto shows An artist's impression of an overhead view of the proposed Whyalla hydrogen project.Four years after the South Australian government's bold and ambitious — but very much hypothetical — hydrogen power plant was first announced, there have been inauspicious developments concerning its future.The government previously came under fire for keeping the hydrogen office open, and retaining its head Sam Crafter on a salary of more than half a million dollars, even after it shelved plans for the hydrogen plant.Mr Koutsantonis told parliament Mr Crafter had now been moved to a new role."Sam Crafter, who has led the Office of Hydrogen Power SA, has been appointed to this new role of State Lead, Whyalla Steelworks Industrial Transformation, operating within the Department for Energy and Mining," he said.Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said the developments were proof that the government's hydrogen plan had "failed"."Today's scrapping of the Office of Hydrogen Power and the Office of Northern Water Delivery confirms what is a complete failure of the government's much hyped state prosperity plan and the breaking of a key election," he said."The two major projects of the plan now, quite frankly, lie in tatters. "There's been an eye-watering amount of money, taxpayer dollars, wasted on this hydrogen hoax and also mismanagement of the Northern Water Project. This is now raising serious concerns."Desal plant 'relies on' BHPIn February last year, the government announced spending of $100 million on a feasibility study to help it decide whether to build a desalination plant on Eyre Peninsula, with BHP also contributing $77 million.Mr Koutsantonis was adamant the decision to discontinue the Office of Northern Water Delivery indicated not a move away from that project, but an "acceleration" of it.Mr Koutsantonis says the government is pushing ahead with its desalination plant plan. (ABC News: Che Chorley)He said the government was now putting its mind to whether Mullaquana or Cape Hardy was the more suitable site."The Office of Northern Water Delivery now has completed its task and that is now being put into the Department of Energy and Mining. We're moving onto the next stage, which are the negotiations with BHP," he said."We've not reached final investment decision yet because it entirely relies on an agreement with BHP to purchase the water."We're not going to build a desal plant and hope they buy it — we need a written agreement in place that they would purchase the water."Posted 1h ago1 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 8:28amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesCoalition costings reveal worse budget for first two years under Dutton compared to LaborTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Peter Dutton and Angus Taylor press conferenceLiberals granted injunction in spat with council over corflutes in KooyongLIVEPhoto shows Monique Ryan Amelia Hamer pre-poll signsVaping rules to be eased under Coalition governmentTopic:VapingPhoto shows a woman holds a vape as she blows smoke out of her mouth while walking outdoorsGroup that organised election volunteers denies links to BeijingTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Steven Mao and Jessica Yuan anding out how-to-vote cards wearing Monique Ryan shirts.Moment before officer shoots Bondi Junction stabber shown in new CCTVTopic:CrimePhoto shows CCTV of a man running with a knife in a shopping centre.Related storiesGreen hydrogen project at Port Pirie smelter shelvedTopic:Energy PolicyPhoto shows An aerial photo of a large industrial work site in Port Pirie. Will SA's $593m hydrogen power plant proposal vanish into thin air?Analysis by Daniel KeanePhoto shows An artist's impression of an overhead view of the proposed Whyalla hydrogen project.Hydrogen plant in doubt as SA premier refuses to commit to $600m projectTopic:Hydrogen FuelPhoto shows A sign promotes the hydrogen plant.Whyalla businesses relieved and 'stunned' by $2.4b steelworks dealTopic:SteelPhoto shows A steelworker in Whyalla holds his GFG helmet.SA government to spend $100m on desalination plant and pipeline network 'pre-feasibility study'Topic:Mining Environmental IssuesPhoto shows Animation design of desalination planRelated topicsAdelaideHydrogen FuelSAState and Territory GovernmentSteelWhyallaTop StoriesCoalition costings reveal worse budget for first two years under Dutton compared to LaborTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Peter Dutton and Angus Taylor press conferenceLiberals granted injunction in spat with council over corflutes in KooyongTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsVaping rules to be eased under Coalition governmentTopic:VapingGroup that organised election volunteers denies links to BeijingTopic:ElectionsMoment before officer shoots Bondi Junction stabber shown in new CCTVTopic:CrimeJust InWoman has car stolen on freeway after stopping to help at crashTopic:Police25m ago25 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 9:59amYoungest Snowtown murderer applies for release on paroleTopic:Homicide1h ago1 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 9:19amNeo-Nazi flyers delivered to Jewish households in MelbourneTopic:Elections1h ago1 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 9:18amMoment before officer shoots Bondi Junction stabber shown in new CCTVTopic:Crime52m ago52 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 9:33amMore Just InBack to top