Firmus Technologies lodges plans for second Tasmanian AI factory at Bell Bay
Singapore-based Firmus Technologies has submitted plans for a second AI factory in Tasmania’s Bell Bay, joining its $2 billion St Leonards facility and a proposed Wesley Vale site as part of Project Southgate. The Bell Bay project, requiring 300 MW of power, faces scrutiny over energy demands and will undergo public feedback until June 29 before council approval.
Singapore-based Firmus Technologies has lodged plans for a second AI data center in Tasmania, this time at Bell Bay near George Town, on land previously occupied by the Gunns pulp mill. The proposal is part of its broader Project Southgate initiative, which also includes a $2 billion AI facility under construction at St Leonards near Launceston—due to begin operations in early 2027—and a third potential site at Wesley Vale. The Bell Bay facility, labeled GEE01, would consist of two data hall buildings, an office, and a workshop, powered by two 220kV transmission lines connecting Sheffield and George Town. The project would draw approximately 300 megawatts of electricity, combining with the St Leonards site to consume nearly 15% of Tasmania’s total grid capacity unless additional renewable generation is developed. Firmus secured a three-year power agreement with government-owned Aurora Energy for the St Leonards facility in March, negotiated at market rates without subsidies. Planning documents also outline standby diesel generators and lithium iron phosphate batteries for backup, alongside peak annual cooling water usage of up to 22,000 kilolitres, primarily lost to evaporation. Firmus cited access to power, transmission connectivity, and alignment with government policy as key factors in selecting Bell Bay. The company stated it is collaborating with private power generators and state governments to accelerate new energy infrastructure. The facility would operate 24/7, employing around 70 staff during daytime shifts and 25 each during evening and night shifts. Public feedback on the Bell Bay proposal is open until June 29, after which the George Town Council’s planning authority will review the application. The state’s growing AI data center deals, including Firmus’ projects, are also under scrutiny by a Senate inquiry examining energy and water impacts of such facilities. The inquiry will assess whether Tasmania’s infrastructure can sustain the rising demand from AI companies.
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