The Australian Government opens the Resources Methane Abatement Fund

Factory pipes dispelling smoke.
Factory pipes dispelling smoke.

The Australian Government has opened the Resources Methane Abatement Fund to fund research into reducing methane emissions across the resources sector.

Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said the fund would provide around $8.5m in grants to universities and research institutions to develop projects that will cut methane emissions from the country’s coal and gas industries.   

“The Australian government is committed to lowering emissions and playing a lead role in helping the world to decarbonise and fight climate change,” she said.

“Fugitive emissions from coal and gas projects are responsible for around 29% of Australia’s methane emissions.

“The Albanese Government is determined to lower emissions from the resources sector, and we will work with industry to decarbonise and curb fugitive methane emissions.”

Once commercially viable, methane abatement technology will help Australia reach net zero by 2050.

The news of the Resources Methane Abatement Fund comes a few days after Australia joined the United States, the European Union, Japan and the Republic of Korea in signing a statement on accelerating methane mitigation from the LNG value chain.

Minister King said the agreement brought together some of the world’s biggest LNG producers and consumers.

“The joint statement commits Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States, and the European Union to cooperate on work to lower emissions along the full LUNG supply chain,” she said.

“The Australian Government is steadfastly committed to lowering emissions and has legislated to cut emissions by 43% by 2030 on the path to net zero by 2050.

“The road to net zero runs through Australia’s resources sector, which will be instrumental in achieving our climate goals as well as those of our resources trade partners.”

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