SunCable’s Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink) project has received environmental approval from the Australian government.
The project covers a distance of 2,000 km, from the Northern Territory to the Australia-Indonesia maritime border.
It has been assessed and approved by the Commonwealth Minister for Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC).
This environmental clearance is an important step in developing the infrastructure needed to supply electricity to new green industries in the Northern Territory and to export renewable energy to Singapore.
The approval of the EPBC Act demonstrates the government’s confidence in SunCable’s ability to deliver the project, one of the largest energy infrastructure initiatives to receive such approval.
SunCable plans to further invest in communities in the Northern Territory, Singapore and Indonesia to advance the next phase of the AAPowerLink.
The company will continue to negotiate Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) with traditional owners in the Northern Territory.
SunCable will consult with the Singapore Energy Market Authority regarding the application for conditional approval for the submarine cable interconnector.
It will also enter into discussions with the Indonesian government on regulations and permits, including the sharing of knowledge and hydrographic data.
The AAPowerLink is seen as a national development project for Australia and offers a triple win for the Asia Pacific region.
The aim is to deliver 6GW of green electricity 24/7 to large-scale industrial customers in both Darwin and Singapore via a 4,300km subsea cable in two development phases.
A final investment decision for the project is scheduled for 2027, with electricity supply to begin in the early 2030s.
Cameron Garnsworthy, Managing Director of SunCable Australia, said: “SunCable is pleased to have received approval from the Commonwealth Government under the EPBC Act, following four years of extensive assessment and public consultation with stakeholders across Australia.
“SunCable is a company founded with a vision to help decarbonize the planet. Today’s announcement is a vote of confidence in the project and SunCable itself as responsible stewards of the local environment in the Northern Territory.
“SunCable will now focus on the next planning phase to progress the project towards a final investment decision, which is expected to be completed in 2027.”
In July 2024, SunCable’s Australia-Asia PowerLink secure key environmental permit from the Northern Territory Government and the NT Environment Protection Authority.
“SunCable’s AAPowerLink secures environmental permit in Australia” was originally created and published by Energy technologya brand of GlobalData.
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