- Cook Government releases inaugural carbon capture, utilisation
and storage (CCUS) Action Plan
- $26 million to support two Western Australian CCUS projects
- CCUS vital to tackling climate change and
supporting local jobs
The Cook Labor Government
is positioning Western Australia as a world leader in carbon capture, utilisation
and storage (CCUS), today releasing the State's first CCUS Action Plan and
announcing $26 million towards two CCUS projects.
CCUS technologies capture
and store, or make use of, carbon dioxide emissions from industrial activities
and will play a critical role in hard-to-abate industries globally.
WA has numerous CCUS
projects proposed for development over the next decade, with an initial
combined capacity to store over 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - around
a quarter of WA's current scope one emissions.
The Action Plan aims to
enhance policy certainty, attract further investment into the State, and
accelerate the deployment of proven technology and infrastructure - leveraging
WA's existing infrastructure, highly skilled workforce and suitable geological
formations.
It also supports the
development of new and emerging CCUS technology.
To support the plan, the
Cook Government has today announced a $26 million funding boost through the
Investment Attraction Fund towards two CCUS projects.
A $15 million grant will
support AGIG to develop an onshore transmission pipeline for an offshore
multi-user CCS hub in the Pilbara.
The project will help
transport carbon dioxide from facilities on the Burrup into depleted gas
fields, sequestering up to five million tonnes of carbon dioxide in its first
phases.
Another $11 million grant
will support Mitsui E&P Australia and Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy &
Fertilisers develop the Cygnus CCS Hub in the Mid West, proposed to initially
store around 530 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide per annum from the Waitsia Gas
Plant and Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers' CSBP ammonia plant in
Kwinana in a depleted gas reservoir.
Development of the Action Plan was a key commitment under the Western
Australian Sectoral Emissions Reduction Strategy, released in December 2023,
and was informed by the LNG Jobs Taskforce, industry, research
organisations, regional representatives and government agencies.
The CCUS Action Plan is
available at Carbon
capture, utilisation and storage: Action Plan.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"My Government is
delivering on our clean energy plan to create local jobs, tackle climate change
and set up our State for the future.
"CCUS will play an
important role for hard-to-abate industries, and we're positioning WA as a
world-leader in CCUS technology.
"WA has the skills, the
infrastructure and the natural features to attract major global investment into
CCUS, helping to diversify our economy, create local jobs and supporting our
low-carbon future."
Comments attributed to Mines and Petroleum
Minister David Michael:
"WA
is ready to launch a new industry to help industry to decarbonise.
"This
year the Cook Government passed a Bill to enable the transport and injection of
greenhouse gas emissions.
"Industry
stakeholders are now working closely with Government to develop and finalise
the regulations governing how CCUS will operate in WA.
"CCUS
is recognised as being part of the decarbonisation mix to reach net zero."
