SunCable has achieved a significant milestone in its ambitious Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink) project, securing approval from the Commonwealth Government for the Australian component.
The project, which aims to deliver green electricity to both Darwin and Singapore, received the green light under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC).
The AAPowerLink is set to become one of Australia’s largest energy infrastructure projects, spanning approximately 2,000 kilometres from the Northern Territory to the Australian-Indonesian maritime border.
The project’s key features include:
- Delivery of up to 6GW of 24/7 green electricity
- A 4,300 kilometres subsea cable connecting to Singapore
- Potential to create new export industries in Australia
- Expected economic value of over $20 billion to the Northern Territory
This federal approval follows the environmental approval granted by the Northern Territory government and NT Environment Protection Authority last month.
The EPBC Act approval signifies the Australian government’s confidence in SunCable’s ability to execute this nationally important project within appropriate conditions.
The AAPowerLink project is expected to have a significant economic and social impact:
- Creation of an average of 6,800 direct and indirect jobs annually during construction
- Peak workforce of 14,300
- Potential for transformational change for Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory
SunCable will now focus on advancing the project towards a Final Investment Decision, targeted for 2027.
The company plans to:
- Continue negotiations for Indigenous Land Use Agreements
- Engage with Singapore’s Energy Market Authority on the subsea cable interconnector
- Work with the Indonesian government on regulatory and permitting matters
Cameron Garnsworthy, SunCable Australia’s Managing Director, expressed satisfaction with the approval, stating: “Today’s announcement is a vote of confidence in the project and SunCable itself as responsible stewards of the local Northern Territory environment.”
The AAPowerLink project is expected to commence electricity supply in the early 2030s, marking a significant step in Australia’s renewable energy transition and its role in the Asia-Pacific region’s green energy future.