Stefan Rouenhoff met with representatives of the Australian government, visited various industrial projects, and participated in the Australia-EU Hydrogen Supply Chain Forum, which both countries held as part of their energy partnership.

New challenges due to geopolitical and economic developments

State Secretary Rouenhoff: "Germany and Australia are linked by a long-standing partnership and friendship. The geopolitical and economic developments of recent years present our two countries with new challenges. We should find joint responses to these challenges. That is why it is the declared goal of the German government to further expand political and economic relations with Australia, for example in the raw materials sector and in the field of energy policy. Australia has extensive raw material reserves, a strong mining sector, and optimal conditions for large-scale hydrogen production. Both sides can benefit from deepening our partnership in these and other areas. In addition, I am advocating in Canberra for the swift resumption of free trade negotiations with the European Union. It is in both our interests to put our foreign trade relations on a broader footing and to agree on a comprehensive trade agreement soon.

Concrete measures for deeper cooperation

In talks with high-ranking representatives of the ministries for raw materials, climate and energy, foreign affairs and trade, and the defense industry, State Secretary Rouenhoff advocated concrete measures for deeper cooperation. At the Australia-EU Hydrogen Supply Chain Forum, he also further developed the joint hydrogen tender agreed last year as part of H2 Global and discussed key supply and sales issues with major industrial companies.

German-Australian relations

Germany and Australia have close economic ties. Bilateral trade in goods amounted to approximately €15 billion in 2024. Negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EU and Australia are currently on hold. Recently, both sides have signaled their interest in resuming talks, which the German government would very much welcome. Formalized German-Australian energy cooperation has been in place since 2017 and was expanded into an energy and climate partnership in 2024. Within this framework, discussions on hydrogen, energy efficiency, climate, and energy security are being held in close interministerial cooperation. There is particularly close cooperation on the topic of hydrogen.

H2Global as the world's largest public tendering process

H2Global is the world's largest public tendering process for the procurement of green hydrogen. At its core are auctions in which hydrogen products are purchased at the lowest bid price and then resold to the highest bidder in Germany or the EU. As long as the end customers' willingness to pay is lower than the bid price, the difference in costs is offset by government subsidies. On September 13, 2024, Australia and Germany agreed to provide up to €200 million each for a joint Australian-German tender lot. The global H2Global purchasing rounds already financed by the German government can thus be further increased.

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