HIF Global to revitalize former pulp-mill site in Tasmania with eFuels facility

Image: HIF Global

HIF Global announced Sept. 4 that it plans to locate the HIF Tasmania eFuels Facility at the former Burnie paper-mill site in South Burnie, Tasmania, Australia.

The move will bring what HIF Global said is new life to one of the region’s most significant industrial sites, returning long-term employment to the community while supporting Tasmania’s ambition to be a leader in renewable energy.

The facility is expected to produce more than 200,000 metric tons of eMethanol per year, create several hundred construction jobs and approximately 200 permanent jobs during operations.

eFuels are made using renewable electricity to power electrolyzers that separate hydrogen from water.

The hydrogen is then combined with recycled carbon dioxide from plantation residues to create eMethanol, a synthetic fuel that can be used in shipping or converted into eFuels for aviation, cars and trucks.

HIF is producing eFuels today at its HIF Haru Oni facility in Chile and is developing commercial-scale eFuels facilities in the U.S., Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Australia.

HIF Tasmania was first announced in July 2022, with plans to locate the facility on a sustainable forestry plantation at Hampshire, 30 kilometers south of Burnie.

After significant project engineering and design work and site review, HIF concluded that the former pulp-mill site will provide better opportunities for cost-saving modularization and port access, making it a more ideal location for its eFuels infrastructure.

“Burnie’s industrial heritage and deepwater port make the old pulp-mill site the ideal location,” said Ignacio Hernandez, CEO of HIF Asia Pacific. “Relocating here allows us to bring employment back to this historic site while enabling efficient delivery of large equipment and sustainable use of local resources, such as recycled wastewater from the Round Hill Sewage Treatment Plant. We are especially keen to hear from as many people as possible over the coming months so that we can build their feedback into our design. Very soon we will advertise community events where local people can come and ask us questions.”

Ian Jones, the president of Business North West, said, “The pulp site is hugely significant to Burnie and has sat idle and rusting for far too long. I have followed the progress of this project very closely over the last three years and believe this is a golden opportunity for the town to be at the forefront of a new, emerging industry.”

HIF Asia Pacific will submit a formal notice of intent to Tasmania’s EPA in the coming weeks, with a development application to follow in 2026.

Operations could start as soon as 2030.