Firmus Technologies Says Two Tasmanian AI Data Centre Sites Still Await Funding and Approval

Firmus Technologies has not secured full funding for all three of its planned Tasmanian AI data centres, its general energy manager Paul Grzinic told a state parliamentary committee on Tuesday. The Launceston site and Wesley Vale stage one are fully funded, while the other sites remain subject to development approval, he said. ABC reported the testimony.

Grzinic Testifies on Firmus Funding Status

Firmus Technologies designs, builds and operates modular AI Factory data centres using liquid cooling, NVIDIA GPUs and orchestration software for hyperscale, sovereign and government customers across the Asia-Pacific region, according to akta.pro company records. The company is led by co-CEOs Oliver Curtis and Tim Rosenfield.

Grzinic, who joined Firmus in June after more than 11 years as wholesale energy manager at state-owned retailer Aurora Energy, appeared before the Joint Select Committee on Energy Matters in Hobart. Greens MP Vica Bayley asked him about Firmus's ability to fund its Tasmanian projects following the failure of its recent attempt to attract investors.

"The Launceston site is obviously fully funded, Wesley Vale stage one is also fully funded," Grzinic told the committee. "And with regards to the other sites, obviously they're still subject to DA [development approval]."

The Long Reach project in the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone is the largest of the three at 288 megawatts. George Town Council has approved the development, though Firmus is appealing a condition limiting the use of its backup diesel generators. Latrobe Council has asked Planning Minister Kerry Vincent to consider assessing the Wesley Vale proposal as a major project.

A Firmus spokesperson said St Leonards is well advanced in construction and contracted to a customer, while Wesley Vale stage one is contracted and has funding allocated but is still awaiting development approval. Bell Bay has development approval and is under option to a customer, the spokesperson said, and will be funded in stages as it progresses. Firmus would not confirm who the customers were.

Hydro Tasmania Reviews 444MW Request

Hydro Tasmania is assessing a request from Firmus for 444MW, with a decision expected by the end of the year. Hydro chief executive Rachel Watson said the period of greatest focus sits between 2028 and 2030, when the full Firmus load is expected to be online but before new wind generation is commissioned. Hydro identified three planned Tasmanian wind farm projects that could supply Firmus once operational, adding that they would compete for construction resources and would not all come online at once. Grzinic said Firmus's preference is to underwrite about 1,000MW of new wind energy through Hydro.

Firmus's Path to the Tasmanian Hearings

Firmus withdrew its application to list on the ASX on October 9 after demand faded, according to Fat Tail Daily. Australia's market watchdog ASIC is gathering information about the failed IPO of Firmus Grid Ltd., though no formal investigation has opened, Bloomberg reported. Tasmania's EPA is urging a tribunal to hear its concerns after Firmus appealed a condition limiting diesel generator use at its 288-megawatt AI data centre, ABC reported on October 9.

What Comes Next for Firmus

Hydro Tasmania's decision on the 444MW request is expected by the end of the year. Firmus is appealing a condition on backup diesel generator use at Long Reach, and Latrobe Council has asked Planning Minister Kerry Vincent to consider assessing the Wesley Vale proposal as a major project.