Our Projects
Tiwi Island Plantation Project
Working in partnership with parent company Midway, 1971 Capital is establishing Australia’s largest indigenous-owned plantation carbon project, demonstrating how capital can be mobilised into large scale, high integrity, nature-based solutions.
Partnering with the Tiwi Plantation Corporation (TPC) and backed by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and fund manager River Capital, 1971 Capital is managing the establishment of 30,000 hectares of Eucalyptus pellita (red mahogany) plantations in the Tiwi Islands.
The project is forecast to generate more than five million Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) over its 30-year life, with the first two stages registered with the Clean Energy Regulator, delivering an estimated 865,000 ACCUs.
The Tiwi people, through the TPC and Tiwi Land Council provide leadership, direction and oversight ensuring local priorities, cultural considerations and employment outcomes are central to the project. The Tiwi people retain equity and lease arrangements, ensuring direct ongoing economic benefits to the community.
The project combines environmental, social and economic goals through carbon sequestration, sustainable timber production and generational community employment.
Ground breaking biofuel crop
1971 Capital is leading the development of a new biofuel feedstock by growing native Australian legume trees in North Queensland for renewable diesel production.
In partnership with Rio Tinto and supported by parent company Midway, 1971 Capital is managing the establishment of a 3,000-hectare Pongamia (Millettia pinnata) tree farm near Townsville, planting over 440,000 trees to understand how to produce biofuels in a socially and environmentally sustainable way at scale.
This hardy native legume is well suited to tropical and marginal environments, producing an annual crop of oil-rich seeds that can be refined into renewable diesel.
Unlike most annual crops, Pongamia trees remain in the ground throughout their productive life, continually storing carbon, improving soil health, and enhancing local biodiversity.
1971 Capital is overseeing the planting and operation of the farm, working closely with regional nurseries, agricultural specialists, and research organisations to ensure sustainable production, maximised oil yields, and the creation of long-term economic opportunities for the North Queensland region.
Delivering carbon solutions in south west Victoria
1971 Capital is delivering one of Australia’s most significant new plantation investments – a $200 million expansion of Victoria’s Green Triangle hardwood (Eucalytpus globulus) bluegum plantation estate supporting large scale carbon sequestration and long-term regional value creation.
The five-year program, in partnership with parent company Midway and global reinsurer MEAG, a wholly owned subsidiary of global reinsurer, Munich Re, will establish about 8000 hectares of new plantation in the Corangamite and Colac Otway regions.
The strategic investment will support regional jobs and deliver long-term climate benefits through large scale carbon sequestration.
The resource is expected to be available for harvest and processing from 2035, exported to Asian based markets via Midway’s processing facility at Geelong.
