Australian manufacturer Orica has achieved another milestone in its decarbonisation journey, eliminating one million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from its Kooragang Island site.
The emissions reduction, which is the equivalent of taking 600,000 cars off the road, is the result of Australia’s first deployment of tertiary abatement technology on three nitric acid plants.
To facilitate the project, the NSW Government’s Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program co-invested $13.06 million, together with Orica’s $25 million financed by the Federal Government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
The Clean Energy Regulator also approved the project as eligible to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units.
Having invested responsibly to deliver reductions in net operational Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas, Orica has also completed the installation of this technology at its Yarwun manufacturing plant in Queensland.
This installation has continued to build on the progress delivered in FY2024, with global emissions already reduced by 43 per cent from 2019 baseline levels.
“This is another proud and critical milestone in Orica’s decarbonisation journey and ambition to achieve net zero emissions by latest 2050,” said Orica group executive and president Australia Pacific and Sustainability, Germán Morales.
“Sustainability is at the core of our purpose and this milestone highlights our ongoing commitment to supporting our customers in achieving their sustainability goals and our long-term support of the Hunter region while also supporting government decarbonisation ambitions. It also shows the power of partnership when private business and government work together.”
To celebrate this significant achievement, NSW minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage, the Hon. Penny Sharpe MLC, CEO of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Ian Learmonth and Orica Group Executive and President Australia Pacific and Sustainability, Germán Morales attended a ceremony at Kooragang Island.
Orica Kooragang Island has also completed other milestones over the past 12 months to create more sustainable operations including celebrating 10 years of recycled water usage and the installation of a prill tower scrubber.
Orica is continuing to evaluate the viability of a potential commercial-scale renewable hydrogen supply chain in the industrial and port zone of Newcastle to further decarbonise future operations.