KUALA LUMPUR: Gamuda Bhd
, through its subsidiary Gamuda Renewable Pty Ltd, has acquired an interest in the Hazelwood North Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Victoria, Australia, from Manthos Investments Pty Ltd.
In a statement, Gamuda said the move increases Gamuda Renewables' Australian portfolio to three assets across the National Electricity Market (NEM) and deepens its commitment to owning and developing large-scale renewable energy infrastructure in Australia.
Located in the Latrobe Valley, the approved project comprises a 450-megawatt (MW) solar farm and a four-hour, 1,800 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system on a 1,100-hectare site.
The project is expected to power about 150,000 homes when operational. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028, with commercial operations targeted for 2030, subject to a final investment decision.
Gamuda said the development is expected to create about 450 construction jobs.
The acquisition reflects the pace at which Gamuda Renewables has expanded since entering the Australian energy market in September 2024.
The company said it achieved its initial target of developing between one and two gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2029 in less than two years. It is now aiming to grow its portfolio to 5 GW of assets under development, construction and operation by 2031, supported by the financial strength of parent company Gamuda.
Gamuda Renewables and Manthos are also exploring the possibility of developing a co-located data centre at the site.
Gamuda Australia chief strategy and development officer Jarred Hardman said the project represents the company's first asset in Victoria and supports its expansion in Australia's renewable energy sector.
"The opportunity to expand the project to include a data centre is something both Manthos and our team are genuinely excited about.
"Pairing large-scale renewable generation and storage with the digital infrastructure that increasingly depends on it is a compelling model, and one we look forward to progressing in the months ahead," he said.
The acquisition is subject to approval from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).
