"Government support for resources projects to reduce emissions and prevent … opportunities moving offshore is essential"
CME Director of Policy, Adrienne LaBombard
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA (CME) has welcomed the Federal Government's $330 million investment under the Powering the Regions Fund to support emissions reduction projects at nine sites around Australia, two in WA.
CME Director of Policy, Adrienne LaBombard, said the investment was critical to progress Australia's mining activities while still meeting our national decarbonisation targets.
"Government support for resources projects to reduce emissions and prevent these opportunities moving offshore is essential and we are pleased to see two WA projects have received grant funding under the program," Ms LaBombard said.
"CME congratulates member Glencore on their successful funding application for Murrin Murrin cobalt and nickel operations in Leonora as part of their Hybrid Renewable Energy project."
Ms LaBombard said WA is responsible for 35 per cent of total covered emissions under the Safeguard Mechansim despite only having 10 per cent of the Australian population.
"This largely reflects the energy needs of the WA resources industry, which makes an outsized contribution to Australia's trade, state and national economies, and government revenues," she said.
"Since CME members participate in a number of the hard-to-abate mining activities including cement, ammonium nitrate, nickel and alumina that are important to the energy transition, we are supportive of the current review into policy options focused on reducing carbon leakage.
"We are also advocating for government to ensure Australia's climate policies do not reduce the competitiveness of our import-competing domestic industries, while still keeping the transition to net zero firmly in view."
Ms LaBombard said that based on CME's months of stakeholder engagement, she was keen to see how the Federal Budget would include additional support for further hard-to-abate industries, and the development of emissions reduction technology to bridge the gap between capability and targets.
