Premier Roger Cook has underscored WA’s key role in the decarbonisation of its Asian trading partners in a speech welcomed by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME).
Addressing the Committee for Economic Development of Australia this morning, the Premier revealed a staged plan to transition WA’s energy exports while maintaining the State’s reputation as stable and reliable trading partner.
Mr Cook also promised to release a master transmission plan for the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) by the end of 2025, a vital step on WA’s own path to decarbonisation and something CME has strongly advocated for.
CME Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Tomkinson backed the Premier’s pragmatic stance and said the resources sector was ready and willing to invest in realising his ambitions – provided they were backed by supportive industry policy.
“We know WA’s biggest contribution to the global pursuit of net zero will likely occur outside the State’s borders,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“LNG has made WA one of the world’s most important energy exporters and our gas is already helping our Asian neighbours replace more carbon-intensive coal.
“The longstanding trading relationships we have built with countries like Japan, South Korea and China are also one of our biggest advantages as we continue working to commercialise lower-emission fuels into the future.
“Their ongoing support and investment in future-facing industries and infrastructure will be essential to WA maintaining its position as a resources powerhouse.”
Ms Tomkinson said accelerating decarbonisation efforts within WA would rely heavily on the electrification of industrial and manufacturing processes.
“CME has repeatedly highlighted the critical importance of low-emission, reliable and affordable electricity for both existing industry and future endeavours like green iron,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“Transmission lines are the key enabler of new large-scale renewable projects to help bring down the cost of power.
“The WA Government has announced more than $1 billion for the Clean Energy Link North project but we know more lines will be needed to bring in the required volume of new generation.
“There is also the need for transparency and certainty over the delivery timeframes and costs – which is why we welcome the Premier once again committing to releasing a full SWIS transmission plan by the end of the year.”
Media contacts:
Josh Zimmerman j.zimmerman@cmewa.com / 0404 947 719
Natasha Mutch n.mutch@cmewa.com / 0435 383 382
