‘It’s like tripping over gold’

South Australia’s Energy and Mining Minister has made some of his most bullish comments on the booming natural hydrogen hunt happening in his State.

Tom Koutsantonis, in a new article on the ABC’s SA website, said he viewed natural hydrogen as a potential "global game changer".

"Hydrogen is one of those commodities whose time will come, and when it does come it will revolutionise Australian industry, and in fact global industry," he said in the article. "This is the equivalent of tripping over gold.

"If it's actually coming up to ground naturally, and being able to harvest those veins and store that hydrogen without having to use electricity to split water, the cost implications will be dramatic," Mr Koutsantonis said.

The article also quotes Gold Hydrogen managing director Neil McDonald, talking about their 97% purity levels found in early hydrogen testing. Key flow testing drilling will be conducted in the coming weeks, a precursor to a potential pilot plant.

Full article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-01/natural-hydrogen-exploration-interest-south-australia/106660270