SunCable's Australia-Asia Power Link (AAPowerLink) project has received environmental approval from the Australian government.

The project runs 2,000 km from the Northern Territory to the maritime border between Australia and Indonesia.

It has been assessed and approved by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC).

This environmental approval is a key step in the development of infrastructure required to supply electricity to new green industries in the Northern Territory and to export renewable energy to Singapore.

The EPBC Act approval demonstrates the government's confidence in SunCable's ability to deliver the project, one of the largest energy infrastructure initiatives to receive such endorsement.

SunCable plans to invest further in communities across the Northern Territory, Singapore and Indonesia to advance the next phase of the AAPowerLink.

The company will continue negotiations for Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) with traditional owners in the Northern Territory.

SunCable will engage with Singapore's Energy Market Authority on the conditional approval application for the subsea cable interconnector.

It will also engage with the Indonesian government on regulatory and permitting matters, including knowledge and hydrographic data-sharing.

The AAPowerLink is considered a nation-building project for Australia, offering a triple win for the Asia Pacific region.

It aims to deliver 6GW of 24/7 green electricity to large-scale industrial customers in both Darwin and Singapore through a 4,300km subsea cable over two stages of development.

A final investment decision on the project is set for 2027, with the commencement of electricity supply in the early 2030s.

SunCable Australia managing director Cameron Garnsworthy stated: “SunCable is pleased to receive Commonwealth government approval under the EPBC Act, following four years of extensive assessment and public consultation with stakeholders around Australia.

“SunCable is a company founded on a vision to help decarbonise the planet. Today’s announcement is a vote of confidence in the project and SunCable itself as responsible stewards of the local Northern Territory environment.

“SunCable will now focus its efforts on the next stage of planning to advance the project towards a final investment decision targeted by 2027.”

In July 2024, SunCable’s Australia-Asia PowerLink secured key environmental approval from the Northern Territory government and the NT Environment Protection Authority.