Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) has hired former Northern territory chief minister Michael Gunner – the man who spearheaded three huge petrochemical projects in the north – to drive its green energy and hydrogen ambitions in Australia’s Top End.
Gunner stepped down as NT chief minister in May, after delivering the Territory’s budget, citing the birth of his second child, and the toll that a recent heart attack and the Covid-19 pandemic had taken on his health.
He starts in November, leading FFI’s new Northern Australia team in Darwin looking for new projects, where cashed up green industry proponents like FFI founder Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest see huge potential for renewable energy and green hydrogen production.
Already, the massive Sun Cable project – of which Forrest is a backer alongside tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes – proposes to build a 10GW solar plant about 750km south of Darwin. This solar plant, combined with a battery storage system 150-times the size of South Australia’s Tesla Big Battery, will supply energy to Singapore via an undersea cable.
“It’s a race”
“FFI are at the starting line for world changing, economy building mega projects to create green energy – in WA’s North-West, and in the Territory,” Gunner said in a Facebook post.
“It is a race. It is a climate emergency. And the climate crisis needs the same urgency we gave the covid pandemic. The pitch from Dr Forrest and FFI was simple and straight to the heart – do it for the kids.”
But Gunner’s legacy is one his new employer, Andrew Forrest, has been an outspoken critic of, as he green lit three mega petrochemical projects: gas exploration in the Beetaloo Basin, Santos’ Barossa gas development, and the Middle Arm petrochemical complex in Darwin harbour.
“Michael Gunner’s understanding of the Northern Territory’s major resources projects will be beneficial as FFI seeks to deliver green energy projects that can help revolutionise the way we power our planet,” an FFI spokesperson said.
“We know Mr Gunner has always put the north first, and by acting locally and leading a passionate FFI team, he will help us tackle this climate emergency.”
Environment Centre NT co-director Kirsty Howey congratulated the former minister for “seeing the light on climate”.
“Projections show the Northern Territory may become unliveable by as early as 2070 due to climate change – now is the time to abandon fossil fuel development for good. We look forward to the former chief minister taking up the fight against fossil fuel development in the Northern Territory,” she said in a statement.
“However, Territorians can’t forget the devastating legacy of climate-wrecking projects that the former chief minister leaves behind. No one has pushed harder for new fossil fuel development in the Territory than Mr Gunner.”
Spearheading NT gas
Gunner lifted the Northern Territory moratorium on fracking in 2018, which opened areas such as the Beetaloo Basin up for gas exploration on the grounds of jobs and the potential to turn Darwin into a manufacturing hub.
Empire Energy was given the go ahead to do just that in 2021.
The project is controversial not just for the potential for being the cause of a hefty increase in Australia’s carbon emissions — up to 117 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent according to Australia Institute research Tom Swann — but also the risk to water reserves due to the heavy usage required by fracking.
Origin Energy quit the project in September saying the economics also don’t stand up to scrutiny.
Gunner also pursued the Middle Arm petrochemicals precinct, a project that a Northern Territory government environmental report said could have “significant adverse impacts” on the health of people living in the nearby town of Palmerston.
The Middle Arm project is to be supported by gas from the Beetaloo Basin, and is being spearhead by Gunner appointees former Dow chair Andrew Liveris and oil and gas lobbyist Paul Henderson.
Gunner was a strong supporter of Santos’ offshore gas Barossa Project around the Tiwi Islands.
This project was put on hold in September after the Federal Court said Santos did not properly consult with Traditional Owners and overturned all environmental approvals.
Forrest had called the project “atrocious” and the “most polluting project in the world”.
All three projects have attracted billions in federal subsidies.
