Nsw Mining Industry And Cfmeu Call For Fast Track On Low Emission Technologies

Ref: 07/08

Media Release
2 April 2008


nsw mining industry and cfmeu call for fast track on low emission
TECHNOLOGIES

A joint mining industry and union call has been made to the Federal and State Governments to
accelerate the deployment of low emission technologies for power generation.

The call, made by the leaders of the NSW Minerals Council and the CFMEU, coincides with today's
historic launch of the Otway Basin Project which involves the first large scale storage of carbon (C02)
emissions in Australia and the southern hemisphere.

Speaking at the Sydney launch of the Otway project, CEO of the NSW Minerals Council, Dr Nikki
Williams said that Otway was one of several major projects in Australia which are paving the way
towards a low emissions energy future.

"Australia is poised to become a major world player in the design and commercialisation of low
emission technologies, but the clock is ticking," warned Dr Williams. "There are 13 significant low
emission technology projects underway in Australia out of about 45 major projects worldwide.

"That is a phenomenal R&D presence, given Australia is responsible for around 1.5 per cent of global
carbon emissions.

"We now need to ensure that Australia's R&D program is well co-ordinated, that legislative challenges
are addressed at a national level and that international collaboration and negotiations are brokered to
ensure rapid world-wide deployment of these vital technologies."

Tony Maher, National President of the CFMEU said that the progress made so far in Australia is very
encouraging.

"I pay tribute to the Australian research community and the mining industry for its steady progress in
developing new low emission technologies."

"But there is a greater urgency than ever before and we have a tough timetable to meet. The individual
initiatives in various States need to be brought together if we are to meet emissions targets," he said.

"Government and industry are committing billions of dollars, but now we urgently need even greater
Government leadership to make the most of the many developments which have taken place in the past
year," he said.

The Australian coal industry has acknowledged for well over a decade that burning fossil fuels
contributes to global warming and that we need to reduce emissions from coal and gas.

Dr Williams said that despite the hostile myths being perpetrated about low emission technologies,
Governments, coal producers, the research community and electricity generators had made major
progress in the development of these technologies over the past few years.

"Some activists would have you believe that climate change can be rolled back by dismantling the coal
industry and that low emission technologies are either a million miles away or are some kind of PR
fantasy," she said.

"Otway, and other technologies being demonstrated in Australia, are proof that low emission
technologies are scientific fact not science fiction. They are also a vital component of the global
response to climate change.










"A similar project at Sleipner in Norway has been injecting 1 million tonnes of C02 in the deep
subsurface every year for over 12 years," she said. "This is not new technology what is new is testing
and monitoring it in Australian conditions.

"Low emission technologies will not only help drive deep cuts in C02 emissions, they will create a
significant new export industry," said Dr Williams.

There are currently at least 13 projects at various stages of development in Australia including:

Otway and other storage trials including projects at Moomba in South Australia and Gorgon in
Western Australia
The ZeroGen project in Central Queensland, which will be the world's first combined coal
gasification plus Carbon Capture and Storage plant
The Callide Oxyfuel project in Queensland - a demonstration power plant which will burn coal in
a mixture of oxygen and recirculated gases, producing CO2 in high concentrations suitable for
easy and economic capture
A combined $150 million Post-Combustion Capture and Storage project in NSW which offers
the potential to virtually eliminate emissions from power stations; this includes a $5 million Post-
Combustion Carbon Capture project at Mummorah Power Station on the NSW Central Coast.
Projects at Hazelwood and Loy Yang in Victoria, which involve dewatering, drying and
gasification of brown coal
For more information on Australian projects go to:
http://www.co2crc.com.au/dls/gen/CCS_activities_2008.pdf


WHAT: Launch of Australia's first large scale demonstration of C02 storage

WHO: Leading CO2 storage expert, Professor John Kaldi, Chief Scientist, CO2CRC
Dr Nikki Williams, Chief Executive, NSW Minerals Council
Mr Tony Maher, General President CFMEU, Mining and Energy Division

WHEN: 11.30a.m on Wednesday 2nd April 2008

WHERE: State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street Sydney

To arrange interviews please contact Marion Downey, NSW Minerals Council
T: (02) 8202 7213 | M: 0438 280 073 | E: [email protected]