Global leadership confirmed by CCS Institute

The Queensland coal industry’s pioneering support for the development of low-emission power generation technologies had positioned the state as the natural home for a Global Institute of Carbon Capture and Storage announced today by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Acting Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council, Greg Lane, said the opportunities for Queensland and Australia arising from the successful commercialisation of carbon capture and storage technologies were recognised by the coal industry in 2006 through its creation of the voluntary COAL21 Fund.

'Since then, the industry has been pleased to partner with the state and federal governments to fund the demonstration of low-emission technologies applicable to both existing and new generation coal-fired power stations,’ Mr Lane said.

The Queensland coal industry is levying itself to raise $600 million from a national COAL21 Fund pool worth $1 billion over a decade.

To date in Queensland, the COAL21 Fund has committed:

	$68 million to the $205 million CS Energy Callide Oxyfuel project near Biloela and
	$26 million to a feasibility study for stage one of the revised ZeroGen project near Rockhampton

In addition to COAL 21 projects, Australian low emission demonstrations and pilot projects involving the CSIRO are under way at Queensland’s Tarong Power Station, and in Victoria, NSW and China.

‘The Rudd Government is to be congratulated for taking leadership in an area that is vitally important to both the Australian economy and the global environment, particularly with electricity demand forecast to double by 2030 and coal the most abundant energy fuel on earth.

‘An effective global response to rising greenhouse gas emissions and energy demand must include carbon capture and storage technologies, or else risk driving a permanent wedge between what is affordable and what is environmentally responsible.

‘Queensland is leading Australia and Australia the world in low-emission technology development, so we have both an opportunity and an obligation to support the Australian Government’s initiative,’ Mr Lane said.

Media contact: Jim Devine, Director Communications 3295 9560 or 0412 190 021