Big thinking Japan valuable partner
THERE was little doubt about what would be my first overseas destination as Chief Minister.
The relationship between the Northern Territory and Japan is one of great friendship, built on mutual respect and trust.
It is this trust and friendship that saw the Northern Territory become home to Japan’s biggestever foreign investment, Inpex’s Ichthys LNG, ranked as one of the most important gas projects in the world.
It was obvious that Japanese companies were interested in progressing new ideas in the Territory, and that level of comfort is no doubt due the reputation Ichthys LNG has earned in Japan as a safe and trusted project, assisted by a stable and supportive Territory government.
During my visit, I witnessed an important commitment signing between Amphibian Aerospace Industries and ShinMaywa to collaborate on the manufacture of the G-111T amphibious plane, which is to be built in Darwin.
ShinMaywa makes the US-2 amphibious aircraft, so it makes such sound sense for these Australian and Japanese companies to come together to share their knowledge.
Just as rewarding in my whirlwind trip were the many business leaders I was able to meet, all of them anxious to learn what the Territory could offer in support of all kinds of projects.
In Japan, we have genuine street cred. That is because the Territory is Australia’s – and the entire region’s – best investment destination.
I received a warm reception everywhere I went, whether with business leaders or at our wellattended investment briefing at the Australian Embassy.
I talked about opportunities for investors in clean energy, in rare earths and critical minerals, in safe and secure data storage, and our growing subsea fibre connections to Asia – our strengths and priorities align with Japan’s as companies commit to transitioning to clean energy, and who better to partner with than capable friends in the Northern Territory.
I told how our tourism industry is bouncing back after Covid; of our new maritime hub in support of oil, gas and Defence; advanced manufacturing at Middle Arm; our plans to start an aviation industry; and, of course, space.
Japanese industry was clearly impressed by NASA’s three hugely successful rocket launches in North-East Arnhem Land, and I was delighted to bring together Equatorial Launch Australia, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and IHI Aerospace to discuss using the Arnhem Space Centre for further launches.
I met with the leaders of big companies, including Mitsubishi, Osaka Gas, Nissui, Tokyo Gas and, of course, our great friends at Inpex. All of them are joining the rush towards a renewable future.
Japan is committed to becoming a hydrogen society, and our incredibly high solar irradiance is an obvious way to create hydrogen without producing damaging carbon. Osaka Gas is backing the Desert Bloom Hydrogen Project, which is creating a series of modular units to capture water and produce hydrogen in arid environments.
We’ve awarded it Major Project Status and it is based in Tennant Creek, so it’s no coincidence that Sun Cable is building the world’s largest solar farm nearby. They were incredibly interested in Sun Cable, which will soon provide 15 per cent of Singapore’s power from Territory sunshine. What I noticed is that the Japanese find it very easy to believe in such enormously ambitious projects.
Once again, that comes back to Inpex, where we persuaded them that the project would work in Darwin, and we prove it three times every week with gas-laden ships that leave our harbour for Japan. I also met with representatives of NEDO, Japan’s
What I noticed is that the Japanese find it very easy to believe in such enormously ambitious projects.
new energy and development organisation, about the Territory’s abundance of critical minerals and rare earths, all of which are intrinsic to the new tech the world is adopting. Core Lithium’s new mine just across the Darwin Harbour was of great interest to those looking to build electric vehicles, solar panels and batteries that can store clean power.
It was a real honour to receive such a welcome in a country that is so forward thinking, and so interested in joining our journey.