HIF Tasmania e-Fuel Facility

Location: Former Burnie Pulp Mill Site, South Burnie
Investment: $500+ million
Timeline: Construction 2026–27 | Operations 2028
Developer: HIF Tasmania (HIF Global), backed by Porsche AG

HIF Tasmania plans to build Australia’s first large-scale e-Fuels facility at Burnie’s former pulp mill site. The project will use renewable energy from Tasmania’s grid and biogenic CO₂ sourced from sustainable forestry residues, including from Forico, to produce carbon-neutral e-Methanol.

The plant will generate more than 200,000 tonnes of e-Methanol per year, which can be refined into petrol, jet fuel, diesel, or marine fuel, supporting the global shift away from fossil fuels.

Economic and Environmental Benefits

Tasmania generates a substantial amount of forestry residue each year, with estimates suggesting around 3.3 million green tonnes of forest biomass are produced from native forest and plantation harvesting, as well as timber processing. Much of this material is currently underutilised, presenting a significant opportunity for sustainable energy and industrial applications. The HIF Tasmania e-Fuels project will put this resource to work, creating around 300–400 construction jobs and 200 permanent operational roles, strengthening Burnie’s local economy and positioning the city as a national leader in renewable fuel production.

The facility will operate on circular economy principles, reusing treated wastewater from the Round Hill Sewage Treatment Plant, clean energy, and sustainably sourced biomass from forestry residues. By producing clean e-fuels, it is expected to displace millions of litres of fossil fuels each year, supporting global industries in reducing carbon emissions. The project also revitalises Burnie’s former pulp mill site, transforming it into a hub for clean energy innovation.

HIF Tasmania is targeting global shipping, aviation, and transport markets, sectors under increasing pressure to decarbonise under international climate commitments. While local demand is limited, exporting e-methanol and other synthetic fuels has commercial viability. Leveraging Burnie’s deep-water port, the project attracts investment, creates jobs, and positions Burnie as a key gateway for renewable fuel exports, contributing to both local prosperity and global emission reduction efforts.

Latest Updates:

2025

HIF Global to revitalise Burnie’s former Pulp Mill site with e-Fuels facility (hifglobal.com)

2024

• Infrustructure.gov.au - HIF Asia Pacific response to Low Carbon Liquid Fuels (infrastructure.gov.au)
• HIF Tasmania eFuels Facility (research.csiro.au)
• HIF Tasmania eFuel Facility added to CCA’s Projects of Regional Importance list (cradlecoast.com)

2023

• HIF Tasmania eFuel Facility shortlisted for $2bn Australian Government funding program (hifglobal.com)
• hif-global-partners-with-forico-for-australias-first-efuels-production-facility (theadvocate.com.au)
• hif-global-and-forico-team-up-to-deliver-australias-first-efuels-plant (forico.com.au)
• hif-global-engages-technip-energies-for-australia-efuels-project (hifglobal)

2022

• hif-asia-pacific-pty-ltd-hif-tasmania-carbon-neutral-efuel-plant-2753-ridgley-highway-hampshire (epa.tas.gov.au)
• HIF-Press-Release---Tasmania-29056.html (porsche.com)
• HIF Global begins approval process for its first carbon-neutral eFuels manufacturing facility in Australia (hifglobal.com)
  

2020

• the_tasmanian_renewable_hydrogen_action_plan (stategrowth.tas.gov.au)
• future_industries/green_hydrogen (stategrowth.tas.gov.au)