October 27th marked a milestone in the history of Earth Source Hydrogen when we were granted a Special Prospecting Authority for block SPA-0112 by the Government of Western Australia. This is one of two licences we applied for in the region, totalling ~ 40,000 square kilometres, and we are confident the second, SPA-0111, will be secured soon.

Ownership structure

• SPA-0112 is held 100% by Earth Source Hydrogen.
• SPA-0111 is a 50-50 joint venture with Snowfox.

Next steps
Once both SPAs are in place, we plan to mobilise the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIRO, to conduct a focused water sampling campaign starting in March. The fieldwork is scheduled for two to three weeks. Samples will then undergo laboratory analysis to determine the dissolved elements in the water. The results will help establish whether the area shows natural hydrogen prospectivity. Each SPA grants us the exclusive right to apply for an exploration permit, and the decision whether to do so will be driven by the results of the sampling campaign.

Low impact by design
At least 20 existing bores and water wells will be sampled in each SPA. Access will use existing roads and tracks. Our approach is designed to have zero impact on landholders and the local environment. "This is an important moment for ESH and for natural hydrogen exploration in Australia. It is the first time, to our knowledge, that water sampling has been used in Australia as part of the natural hydrogen discovery process. It also validates the work our team has put in, and it gives us a clear path into the field. We will keep our approach disciplined, science-led, and low impact as we build the dataset needed to assess prospectivity."
David Biggs, Managing Director, Earth Source Hydrogen

Why natural hydrogen matters
Natural hydrogen forms underground through geological processes. If viable accumulations are confirmed and developed responsibly, natural hydrogen could meet the world's energy needs for thousands of years while being 10 times less carbon-intensive than the next best alternative.