The Western Australian Government has unveiled the state’s first carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) Action Plan while 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.
Related article: Achieving sustainability with CCUS
Western Australia has a number of 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 WA Government has 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.
Related article: J-Power teams with Australian offshore carbon capture firms
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.
