HIF Global plans to develop the HIF Tasmania e-Fuels Facility at the former Burnie Paper Mill, revitalising one of the region’s key industrial sites. The project is expected to produce over 200,000 tonnes of e-methanol annually, creating several hundred construction jobs and around 200 permanent roles.

Originally planned for Hampshire, the facility was relocated after site reviews showed Burnie offered better port access, opportunities for modular construction and the use of recycled wastewater from the Round Hill Sewage Treatment Plant.

HIF Asia Pacific will submit a Notice of Intent to the Tasmanian Environmental Protection Agency in the coming weeks, with a full development application to follow in 2026. Operations could start by 2030.

The facility will use renewable electricity to produce hydrogen, which will be combined with recycled carbon dioxide from plantation residues to create e-methanol. This synthetic fuel can power shipping directly or be converted into e-fuels for aviation, cars and trucks, supporting Tasmania’s renewable energy ambitions.