Artist's rendering of Handymax and Capesize Vessel docked at proposed port for loading.
The South Australian government has approved an application by ASX-listed Iron Road for an extension to develop the Cape Hardy deep-sea port, given recent developments in relation to the potential for hydrogen production at the site.
Iron-ore miner Iron Road, which owns 1 207 ha of gulf-sided land at Cape Hardy, has been granted a four-year extension for the port infrastructure project.
The company now has until May 2027 to complete the conditioned Construction Environment Management Plan and Ongoing Environmental Plan, along with the land forming for the jetty and tug harbour, as well as the jetty deck; and until May 2028 to complete construction.
According to the Iron Road statement, the South Australian government has noted recent announcements in relation to the potential for hydrogen export from the Cape Hardy site.
In April, Canada-headquartered clean energy firm Amp Energy secured the rights to develop a green hydrogen project with up to 5 GW of electrolyser capacity on the Eyre Peninsula. Amp signed a strategic agreement with Iron Road.
Iron Road is proposing a significant new export facility on the east coast of the Eyre Peninsula, including a deep-water, 70-million-tonne-a-year bulk export facility, capable of loading various size bulk carriers, including Capesize vessels. Iron Road plans to export 20-million tonnes a year of high-quality iron concentrates for at least 30 years.
After allowing for the initial Central Eyre Iron Project requirement, an additional 50-million tonnes a year of capacity would be available for third-party users from inception of operations.