Members & memos

Paul Lavelle, new Iplex general manager. Image: Iplex.

Iplex Australia appoints new general manager

Fletcher Building Australia has appointed Paul Lavelle as the new general manager of its pipeline solutions business Iplex Australia, effective January 2022. Dean Fradgley, Fletcher Building chief executive, said Lavelle is perfectly placed to lead the Iplex business into the next phase of growth. “Paul has delivered success for Fletcher Building since 2013 in his leadership roles with Laminex and Fletcher Insulation,” said Fradgley. “His strong customer focus, drive for continuous improvement, and ability to influence positive outcomes will ensure the strong momentum already achieved by the team at Iplex will continue to accelerate.” Lavelle said he was excited to be joining Iplex at this stage of the business's journey and looked forward to working with the team and its customers.

New guide for public safety in pipelines

The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) has joined with the Future Fuels Cooperative Research Centre to produce a safety practice guide. Public Safety in the Pipeline Industry: An Engineering Practice Guide applies to engineers who work in the design and operation of high-pressure energy pipelines and associated facilities, and the organisations that employ such engineers. The document forms part of the pipeline engineering body of resources and aims to support excellence in engineering practices. The resource addresses decision-making, actions and behaviours that impact public safety. It seeks to support pipeline engineers’ ability to identify situations that can impact public safety and how to address this effectively.

Australian, Japan signs clean hydrogen trade partnership

The Morrison Government is growing Australia’s clean hydrogen export industry through a new initiative aimed at attracting overseas investment into hydrogen supply chains originating in Australia. The $150 million Australian Clean Hydrogen Trade Program (ACHTP) will support Australian-based hydrogen supply chain projects that secure overseas public or private sector investment. The first round of the program will focus on the export of clean hydrogen to Japan under the Japan-Australia Partnership on Decarbonisation through Technology. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the $150 million program would help to deliver on Australia’s commitment to reducing emissions by working with other countries to get the cost of clean energy technologies down. “It is critical that we work closely with our international partners such as Japan to deliver on Australia’s low emissions objectives,” Morrison said.

Fortescue Future Industries to build electrolyser

Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) has achieved another ambitious target, making hydrogen using an electrolyser designed and built by the FFI team. A small team from FFI’s manufacturing arm developed the innovative electrolyser in the Western Australia facility, producing industrial grade hydrogen for the first time in December. FFI has developed several new electrolyser technologies that will form part of their electrolyser patent family. The outcomes of these projects will inform FFI’s electrolyser technology selection going forward, as FFI works towards its target to produce 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year by 2030.

Saipem to deliver trunkline for Scarborough

Italian gas company Saipem has been awarded an offshore contract by Woodside to operate on behalf of the Scarborough joint venture (JV). Saipem has received the notice to proceed from the company to complete the export trunkline coating and installation of the pipeline that will connect the Scarborough gas field with the onshore plant. The Scarborough gas resource is located in the Carnarvon Basin, offshore Western Australia, and will be developed through new offshore facilities connected by a 430 km export trunkline. The pipe will connect to a second LNG train (Pluto Train 2) at the existing Pluto LNG onshore facility. According to Saipem, the development will be among the lowest carbon intensity sources of LNG globally. The first cargo from Scarborough is expected to be delivered in 2026.

Suiso Frontier departs for Japan

The world’s first liquified hydrogen (LH2) carrier officially departed for Japan on Friday, 28 January, marking a significant milestone for the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) pilot project. The Suiso Frontier docked in the Victorian port of Hastings on 20 January, on what Energy Minister Angus Taylor described as an “historic day for Japan, Australia and the global industry”. The hydrogen tanker was then loaded with a cargo of liquid hydrogen, and within a week of arrival, set off on its inaugural mission back to Japan. The tanker has a capacity of 1250 m3 equating to about 75 mt of liquid hydrogen. For the purpose of the pilot, 99.9 per cent pure hydrogen has been produced from Latrobe Valley coal and biomass via gasification where it was then trucked to Hastings, cooled to -253 degrees and subsequently liquified to less than 800 times its gaseous volume to create LH2. Australian gas supplier Coregas was contracted to provide onsite support and equipment for the gasification plant.

Coregas filling team assisting with the world’s first LH2 shipment. Image: Coregas.

Kurri Kurri gas plant receives approval

The Hunter Power Project has been granted environmental approval for the Kurri Kurri gas plant, making way for the construction phase to commence. The Kurri Kurri gas plant is a 660 MW gas-fired power plant that will provide energy for the Hunter Valley region. The project will be delivered by integrated energy business Snowy Hydro, and according to the company, the power station will comprise two heavy-duty, open cycle gas turbines (OCGT) and the latest, most efficient turbines. Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the project was approved after rigorous assessment, and was found to meet the conditions set by the New South Wales Government.

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