The Australian Government is spearheading an investment of $330 million into the future of heavy industry in Australia to locally manufacture clean energy and bolster emissions reduction initiatives across various industrial sectors nationwide.
Under the banner of the Powering the Regions Fund, this substantial funding injection aims to boost Australian industries, ensuring their resilience and prosperity amid a global shift towards low-emission products.
Announcing the allocation of funds at Cement Australia’s Railton facility in Tasmania, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen unveiled a $52.9 million investment earmarked for upgrading kilns and integrating alternative fuels, like waste, to curtail emissions.
The government has also allocated funds to support various other projects. These include $93 million designated for enhancing energy efficiency at the QAL Alumina refinery in Gladstone, QLD, and $50 million aimed at reducing emissions intensity at the Adbri cement manufacturing plant in Port Adelaide, SA.
Additionally, $44 million has been allocated for implementing energy efficiency upgrades at Shoalhaven Starches food manufacturing in Nowra, NSW, while $35 million is earmarked to transition Murrin Murrin cobalt and nickel operations to renewable energy sources in Leonora, WA.
Furthermore, $32.9 million has been dedicated to emissions reduction efforts at the CSBP chemical manufacturing facility in Kwinana, WA.
In Tasmania, $15 million is allocated to electrify operations at the Grange Resources Iron Ore mine in Savage River, along with $5 million set aside for fuel switching initiatives at the Grange Resources Iron Pellet plant in Port Latta.
Lastly, $700,000 is provided for conducting an alternative fuel trial at the Liberty metals manufacturing site in Bell Bay.
These initiatives are projected to collectively slash emissions by 830,000 tonnes annually, equivalent to removing over a quarter of a million cars from Australian roads each year.
Minister Bowen emphasised that these grants are designed to future-proof Australia’s heavy industries in a world transitioning towards decarbonisation.
“This $330 million investment in Australia’s hard-to-abate manufacturing and mining facilities is about securing the future of high-quality, low-emissions products made right here,” Minister Bowen asserted.
“As global markets change rapidly – we’re supporting Australian industry to not only survive but thrive with our world-class products that support regional jobs across the country.”
These initiatives constitute the initial phase of the $600 million Safeguard Transformation Stream, with further opportunities for applications currently available through the Business Grant Hub.
