Western Australia's Energy and Decarbonisation Minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson, has embarked on a crucial trade mission to South Korea, aiming to unlock significant green energy opportunities for the state.
Forging Partnerships in Clean Energy
The minister departed on Saturday, 6 December 2025, to meet with major South Korean industry leaders. Her itinerary includes high-level discussions with corporate giants POSCO, Samsung C&T, and LX International.
The core agenda is to promote Western Australia's ambitious energy transition. Key talks will focus on attracting investment and fostering collaboration in several critical areas. These include advanced battery manufacturing, green iron and steel production, and the development of new transmission infrastructure.
Building on a Foundation of Collaboration
This visit is a direct follow-up to a Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2024 between the WA State Government and South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. That agreement laid the groundwork for cooperation in clean energy, critical minerals, renewable hydrogen, and industrial decarbonisation.
"Our drive to decarbonise and diversify our economy as we make WA a renewable energy powerhouse offers opportunities for our trading neighbours including South Korea," Minister Sanderson stated ahead of the mission.
She emphasised the state's readiness to showcase its world-class capabilities, noting that South Korea's expertise and investment will play a key role in accelerating WA's clean energy transition. The minister specifically highlighted potential for new partnerships in green steel, green ammonia, and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies.
A Major Trading Partner with Shared Goals
South Korea holds the position of Western Australia's third-largest trading partner, making this diplomatic and commercial outreach particularly significant. The mission underscores a strategic shift from traditional resource exports to high-value, low-emission industrial partnerships.
In addition to securing investment, Minister Sanderson will use the trip to promote the Energy Exchange Australia 2026 conference, scheduled for Perth in March. This event is poised to further solidify WA's status as a central hub for regional energy dialogue and deal-making.
The outcome of this mission could prove pivotal for WA's economic future, directly linking the state's vast renewable resources with the advanced manufacturing and technological prowess of a leading Asian economy.
