Australia has a large role to play in the global energy transition, according to bp Senior Manager City & Corporate Integrated Solutions at BP, Justin Nash.

Mr Nash told guests at the Energy Club WA February industry dinner that WA would particularly play an important part in the energy transition with its world-class renewable resources, commercial and industrial capabilities, strong international trading relationships, and capability in developing new technology and rapidly diversifying the energy mix.

He said Australia was a strategic focus area for more bp investment.

“We have a line of sight to more than $1 billion in investment over the next few years,” Mr Nash said. “The place we’re going to start is right here in Kwinana.”

In 2021, bp ceased all refining operations at its Kwinana operation, converting the asset to an import terminal.

Mr Nash said that after 65 years of safely and reliably refining oil, bp was focused on shaping the asset for the future.

“This is a future that will see green energy hubs at key industrial sites, leveraging existing infrastructure to meet local industrial demand for lower-carbon fuels, hydrogen and green electrons,” he said.

The aging Kwinana refinery was chosen because of its connectivity to key domestic and export markets through its existing pipeline, and road, rail and
marine infrastructure.

“What’s unique about Kwinana is the way the industrial tenants work together and the shared infrastructure that enables Kwinana’s world-leading
industrial symbiosis,” Mr Nash said.

“What this brings is significant local demand across a range of sectors including chemicals, minerals processing, manufacturing, heavy transport; many of
these sectors are hard to decarbonise.”

Bp announced at the end of last year that the units used for oil refining in Kwinana would be repurposed to produce renewable fuels.

The H2 Kwinana project looks to integrate green hydrogen production into its overarching renewable fuels production through a JTSI-sponsored feasibility statement.

“Since renewable fuels require a feedstock of hydrogen, we can look at the potential of providing that hydrogen directly to our own needs to produce
renewable fuels,” Mr Nash said.

“This gives us the opportunity to aggregate demand from other sources in the Kwinana area, bringing the benefits of economies of scale to make this happen.

“We see incredible opportunities for decarbonisation and supply chain resilience flowing from a transformed bp Kwinana.

“By leveraging this industrial symbiosis, building on and enhancing existing infrastructure, we can support green industry and green manufacturing,
not just in Kwinana, but through clean energy hubs across WA.

“The future for bp in Australia is brighter than it’s ever been, with opportunities to see assets like Kwinana, which is right in our backyard, transition in a
meaningful and impactful way.”

Thank you to our event sponsors Worley, Arcadis and Haldor Topsoe.

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