Six new AI data centres proposed for Tasmania, but companies behind them are being kept secret
Posted Wed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:27pmWed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:27pmWed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:27pm, updated Wed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:38pmWed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:38pmWed 9 Sep 2026 at 12:38pm
In short:
Six data centre projects with confidential proponents are being explored in Tasmania, a document tabled in parliament reveals.
The new projects are in addition to the three AI data centres from Firmus Technologies, and if they proceed, would use at least 500 megawatts of energy.
What’s next?
Two of the projects are in the feasibility stage, meaning they have selected a preferred site, while the other four are in the concept phase.
Unnamed companies are looking at setting up six data centres in Tasmania, a document tabled by the state government in parliament reveals.
Two of the six “confidential” projects are in the feasibility stage, meaning a preferred site has been selected and the proponents are undergoing further assessments to determine overall feasibility.
One of those is listed as needing 200-300 megawatts (MW) of energy, which could make it the biggest data centre in the state, depending what end of the range it sits at.
That facility is proposed for the state’s north-west.
Another listed project would also use 200-300 MW, though is still in the concept stage.
The document states a 50 MW project in the concept stage had “expressed interest in the closed manganese smelter in northern Tasmania, Liberty Bell Bay.
If the six confidential projects proceed, they would use at least 500 MW of power.
These proposals are in addition to Firmus Technologies’ three AI data centres in Tasmania — one under construction in Launceston, another approved for construction in the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, and another waiting for approval at Wesley Vale in the state’s north-west.
Firmus is on track to become the state’s biggest power user, with its three facilities needing a combined 444 MW.
VIRIDIS is also setting up a small 1 MW data centre in Burnie, and has council approval.
Greens accuse premier of ‘keeping Tasmanians in the dark’
The document’s release comes after the Greens moved a motion calling on the state government to table “details of all proposed AI data proponents working with the Office of the Coordinator General [OCG], their locations, and estimated power and water construction” by September 8.
Tasmania’s coordinator general is a government position which aims to attract and support investment in the state.
The document states the OCG had supported some of the proponents in site identification and stakeholder engagement, as well as facilitated introductions to existing and proposed energy developers.
Regarding the confidentiality of much of the details, the document states the OCG’s conversations with proponents often occur at a preliminary stage and may involve commercial sensitive information.
“Where information has not been included, this reflects that it is either not yet available, not sufficiently settled, not capable of reliable estimation, or has been provided to OCG in confidence,” the document states.
“This is not intended to limit the parliament’s access to information, but to ensure the information provided is accurate, appropriately qualified and does not compromise current or prospective commercial processes.“
In parliament, Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff accused Premier Jeremy Rockliff of “actively keeping Tasmanians in the dark about your government’s involvement in AI data centre developments”.
“Under Greens and community pressure on Monday, you released a draft non-binding statement of expectations, and it has no guardrails for the largest ever resource bonanza in Tasmania’s history.
“Why are you selling Tasmania’s energy and water resources to AI data centre giants without asking Tasmanians what they want, before you’ve even established your own expectations?“
The government has released a Statement of Expectations for Data Centres and AI Infrastructure for public consultation.
Mr Rockliff accused the Greens of trying to “scare” the public.
He said his government expected transparency from data centre proponents, but that the sector would create jobs for Tasmanians.
“We understand very clearly that we want to know more about these projects and Tasmanians want to know more about these projects, and that’s entirely reasonable, we acknowledge that,” he said.
“It’s also very important to recognise that data centres represent exactly the kind of investment that Tasmania should be attracting.“
Latrobe council sends Firmus project to government
Latrobe council has received a development application from Firmus for a 52 MW AI data centre in Wesley Vale.
On Monday night, the council decided to formally ask Planning Minister Kerry Vincent to assess it as a major project, meaning the council would not need to assess it.
It also requested amendments to the planning scheme, which Mayor Peter Freshney said was “not fit for purpose” to appropriately consider data centre proposals.
“Those concerns from the community and others in the sector cannot be addressed to the extent they need to be under the current framework,” Cr Freshney told ABC Northern Tasmania.
He said while there could be positives to data centre developments for the local and state economy, the planning scheme did not allow councils to consider all the relevant matters.
“The application will need to be considered to weigh up the risks and ensure we don’t have legacy issues caused by failure to properly and appropriately assess these applications in a framework that is fit for purpose,” he said.