The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has told the first meeting of the Carbon Storage Taskforce that Australia can play an important global role in developing economically responsible climate change policy.
The Taskforce has been charged with developing the National Carbon Mapping and Infrastructure Plan which will prioritise the development of geological storage sites for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and plan necessary pipeline infrastructure.
Minister Ferguson said: "The Carbon Storage Taskforce is pivotal to the development of the Government's $500 million National Low Emissions Coal Initiative and complements the research and development work to be undertaken by the National Low Emissions Coal Research Centre.
"The Australian Government's commitment to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent (on 2000 levels) by 2050 will require substantial CO2 reductions from Australia's coal-fired power stations.
"Coal provides around 80 per cent of Australia's total electricity, and accounts for 32 per cent of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
"No serious approach to climate change can ignore the need to reduce CO2 emissions from coal and the Government is committed to helping develop large-scale demonstration projects in order to assess the feasibility of CCS."
The taskforce will by June 2009 produce a National Carbon Mapping and Infrastructure Plan.
Minister Ferguson said: "Keith Spence will chair the Taskforce and brings a wealth of experience from the oil and gas sector, having worked in various capacities at both Shell and Woodside Petroleum. Other members include key representatives from government, the coal, oil and gas industries, power generators, pipeline sector, unions, and environmental organisations.
"The high calibre of representatives ensures the taskforce has the necessary expertise to develop a plan to assist Australia in developing what is an essential technology."
The Carbon Storage Taskforce, the National Low Emissions Coal Council and the National Low Emissions Coal Research Centre, with their focus on developing a sustainable future for the Australian coal-fired power sector, will be important contributors to the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Initiative announced by the Prime Minister on 19 September 2008 to accelerate the global development of CCS.
Members of Taskforce
- Mr Keith Spence - Chair
- Ms Margaret Sewell, General Manager - Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
- Mr Clinton Foster, Chief of Petroleum and Marine Division, Geoscience Australia
- Mr Brad Mullard, Director, Coal and Petroleum Development, Mineral Resources - NSW Department of Primary Industries
- Mr Richard Aldous, Executive Director, Minerals & Petroleum - VIC Department of Primary Industries
- Mr David Mason, Executive Director, Geological Survey of QLD, QLD Department of Mines and Energy
- Mr Barry Goldstein, Director, Petroleum/Geothermal - Primary Industries and Resources South Australia
- Mr Jeff Haworth, Manager, Geological Survey of WA - Western Australia Department of Industry and Resources
- Ms Kathy Hill, Director - GeoScience Victoria
- Mr Robert (Bob) Griffith, Reservoir Technology Manager - ExxonMobil
- Ms Cheryl Cartwright, CEO - Australian Pipeline Industry Association
- Mr Bill Koppe, Head, Coal Product Stewardship - AngloCoal
- Mr Greg Bourne, CEO - WWF Australia
- Mr Tony Maher, Mining and Energy President - CFMEU
- Mr Tony Concannon, Executive Director - International Power
- Dr Peter Cook, CEO - CO2CRC