UK-based GFG Alliance has declined to comment on reports that its billionaire boss is in talks to use a newly acquired energy storage and solar business to power a new electric vehicle plant in Australia.
Local media in South Australia say GFG chairman, Sanjeev Gupta (pictured), is discussing proposals to set up an EV production line at part of a former Holden car factory in the state.
According to The Advertiser, power for the EV plant could come from South Australia’s Zen Energy— in which GFG acquired a majority 50.1% stake last September through its SIMEC Energy division.
A spokesperson for GFG told BBB: “We are not in a position to make any comment at the moment.”
Last October, ZEN Energy approved a 1GW renewable energy plan to meet industrial needs of South Australia, including a 100MWh lithium-ion battery facility at Port Augusta.
ZEN confirmed the battery would be built near the now closed Northern Power Station, and would be plugged into the 275kV Davenport grid connection. The battery itself— said to cost around AUD100 million ($77m)— is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2019.