The federal government has announced a $52 million feasibility study into a carbon capture and storage project in WA's south west, as part of its broader emissions reduction strategy.
The federal government has announced a $52 million feasibility study into a carbon capture and storage project in WA's south west, as part of its broader emissions reduction strategy.
The total cost of the project - which involves capturing CO2 emissions from industrial facilities, compressing it into a liquid and pumping it deep below the earth for permanent storage - is forecast to be $1 billion.
The federal government said it would fund up to a third of the total cost, while the remaining $660 would come from state government and industry.
The project would be located at the Lesueur formation, north of the Kemerton industrial area and is the first on-shore carbon capture and storage trial project in WA.
"It is expected to take about four years of study and research, including detailed desktop modelling, before a final decision on the hub can be made," state mines and petroleum minister Norman Moore said.
Once complete the project would aim to capture up to 2.4 mega tonnes of CO2 a year from surrounding industry including coal-fired power plants, the equivalent of the annual emissions released from approximately 454,000 passenger vehicles or annual emissions from approximately 178,000 households.
Mr Moore said the project has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 per cent in the South-West and by nine per cent across the State.
Federal resources and energy minister Martin Ferguson said carbon capture and storage (CCS) is just one of the fronts the federal government is using to reach emissions reduction targets.
"Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has the potential to significantly reduce emissions across a variety of applications, for example in industry and power generation," he said.
Mr Moore said a community consultative group will be established and will aim to address community concerns and knowledge gaps.
"Simon Holthouse, previous chair of the State Planning Commission and long-time local resident of Harvey, will chair the LCCG which will provide a forum for open and accurate communication between the Department of Mines and Petroleum, the Collie Hub and the wider community," he said.
"This includes involvement in the design of the project assessment, identification of issues to be addressed, monitoring and review of the trials and, project planning and development."
The Collie project would be the third of its kind that is federally funded, with one other in Queensland and another in Victoria.
