Key Highlights

  • Gold Hydrogen arranged a two-stage R&D funding Facility with lender Rockford Capital, secured against projected R&D claims.
  • Stage 1 is a Loan of up to A$2 million against the FY2026 R&D claim, with a 1.75 per cent establishment fee and 16.5 per cent annual interest.
  • Stage 2 allows the company to draw a further A$4 million at its election, repayable by 30 April 2028.

Gold Hydrogen Limited (ASX:GHY) announced on 23 October 2026 that it has arranged Research and Development funding with lender Rockford Capital. The facility is secured against the company's projected R&D claims and is structured in two stages, covering the 2026 and 2027 financial years. The company explores for natural hydrogen and helium on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula.

The first stage is a loan of up to A$2 million against the FY2026 R&D claim, which incorporates the company's 2025 drilling campaign. Gold Hydrogen says the claim has been verified by Deloitte, its R&D and taxation advisers. Settlement was expected within days of the announcement.

The loan carries an establishment fee of 1.75 per cent and interest at 16.5 per cent a year, with a minimum interest period of 120 days. The facility is secured against the projected FY2026 R&D claim.

Stage 2: up to A$4 million at the company's election

The second stage allows Gold Hydrogen, at its election, to draw a further A$4 million against its projected FY2027 R&D claim. The company says this would cover the 2026 Well Testing campaign and other eligible R&D-related costs. The terms mirror those of the first stage and the loan would be secured against the projected FY2027 claim. It must be repaid by 30 April 2028.

Use of funds and background

Gold Hydrogen says the proceeds will be used to compile and analyse the results of its recent well testing campaign, and to carry out preliminary studies on potential commercialisation pathways for natural hydrogen and helium. The announcement does not give a split of funds between these uses.

The company refers to a history of successful R&D claims from its exploration and appraisal work on the Yorke Peninsula. In 2023 it drilled what it describes as the first purpose-built natural hydrogen wells in Australia, and it says it remains the only company to have drilled and tested wells specifically for natural hydrogen in the country. The announcement does not report well test results or flow rates.

What comes next

The next step is settlement of the first-stage loan, which the company expected within days. Drawing the second stage is at the election of Gold Hydrogen (ASX:GHY), with any amount drawn due for repayment by 30 April 2028. The company's work programme following the funding is analysis of the well testing results and early commercialisation studies. The announcement was authorised for release by the managing director.