Indonesia energy partnership continues with hydrogen tour of Australia

A delegation from the Indonesian Government has visited Australia to exchange knowledge on hydrogen technology practices with Australian Government and industry stakeholders.

The eight-person delegation from Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (Kementerian ESDM) and other key agencies, including Perusahaan Listrik Negara, PT Pertamina Power, and the Oil and Gas Research Agency, met with hydrogen partners in New South Wales and Queensland from 23 to 27 October 2023.

Hosted by Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) with support from Partnerships for Infrastructure, the study tour coincided with the Asia-Pacific Hydrogen 2023 Summit & Exhibition in Sydney, enabling the delegation to connect with hydrogen leaders, policymakers and energy stakeholders from across the region.

The Indonesian delegation’s visit to Australia helped strengthen bilateral cooperation, advance understanding of hydrogen technologies, and support sustainable development goals. Hydrogen is a potential clean and sustainable energy source. It can play a key role in reducing carbon emissions and encouraging sustainable economic growth. This study tour was an opportunity for Indonesia to learn about Australia’s hydrogen industry, meet with hydrogen experts, and understand the ways it can be applied in their own energy sector.

Kementerian ESDM’s activities in Indonesia are closely aligned with those of DCCEEW, with one of the aims of the exchange to enhance the partnership between the two organisations. DCCEEW took the delegation through Australia’s national hydrogen strategy and regulatory landscape, and had broader discussion on Indonesia’s hydrogen journey to date.

During their time in New South Wales, the delegation visited the Port of Newcastle and Orica Kooragang Island for a tour of their facilities, including an ammonia production plant. They also discussed hydrogen projects with representatives from AGL, Ampcontro, Energy Renaissance, Investment NSW, and Orica.

While in Queensland, the delegation toured the Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Brisbane, where they learned about Australia’s leading research and state-of-the-art hydrogen technology. They also saw the BOC-installed proton exchange membrane electrolyser at Bulwer Island, and Australia’s first hydrogen refueler at a BP service station in Lytton.

The delegation visit comes after the Australian Prime Minister affirmed Australia’s commitment to a $200 million climate and infrastructure partnership with Indonesia in June 2022, with the first Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Energy Dialogue held in September 2022.