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Waste to wealth: Phil Thick’s strategy for sustainable energy solutions
Phil Thick has had a foot in each of the energy transition camps -and now is on dual path to cut industrial waste and ease a looming pollution ‘tidal wave’.


Phil Thick has a deep understanding of the challenges facing both Australia and the world in the global energy transition.

That comes from being on each side of the equation.

From 2016-220, Thick was the general manager for one of the world’s largest lithium companies, Tianqi Lithium Australia, where he led the project to deliver a billion-dollar refinery in Western Australia.


Now he is a non-executive director of Lithium Australia (ASX:LIT) and Patriot Lithium (ASXAT) and the chair of New Zealand-registered TiGa Minerals and Metals.

But Thick, a civil engineer by profession, also has had an extensive career in oil and gas, having worked for Shell in Australia and overseas for 20 years, including a stint as downstream director for Shell Australia.

For five years he also ran private company Coogee Chemicals, which manufactures, stores and transports fuels and chemicals across Australia, predominantly for the mining industry.


Now he’s helping develop energy solutions of the future.

Thick understands the challenges of transitioning away from fossil fuels.

“I’ve been on both sides so I can understand the transition piece, which is the bit that is challenging everyone at the moment wanting to get out of fossil fuels,” he said.

“But fossil fuels are still by far the biggest energy source that we have and will continue to be probably for the next couple of decades.”

Complex path to net zero
Thick says the transition to a net zero target is complex and challenging and will take time to solve.

“As much as many people would like to see fossil fuels removed from the mix immediately that is totally impractical,” he says.

“There are multiple options to assist in the transition, of which natural gas is obviously the most talked about.”

Thick says removal and storage of carbon from fossil fuel use is improving but not fast enough.

“Renewables are critical to the net zero position, but they are not yet at a level or cost or efficiency that can replace our dependence on other fuel sources,” he says.

“The global push towards EVs is continuing to accelerate, and rightly so, but the carbon footprint of EV production and power generation for EVs remains a challenge.”


Phil Thick is bullish on companies helping to build Australia's sustainable future. Picture: supplied
Industrial sustainability mission
Thick has taken a special interest in sustainability in industrial processes, believing it will play a critical part in the transition to net zero.

“Use of waste materials to generate power and recycling of materials for reuse are both critical objectives and areas of interest for me,” he said.

“Also, effective treatment and use of by-products produced in mineral and chemical processing to create as close as possible a closed loop circuit for these plants and refineries.”

Thick is investing in two ASX companies, which he believes will help Australia and even the world in the energy transition.

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