Carbon dioxide emissions from Western Australia's largest emitters increased by 5 per cent last year.
An analysis by the ABC of the past six financial years of reported emissions, under the national safeguard mechanism, shows there has been a 15 per cent increase in carbon dioxide released by major WA projects since the scheme started.
The latest safeguard data released in late March shows 48 million tonnes of direct emissions, or Scope 1, released in 2021-22 compared to 41 million tonnes in 2016-17.
There had been a decline in 2019-20 and 2020-21 but the drop coincided with a reduction in production at Chevron's Gorgon project in the north-west.
Gorgon has still been the nation's highest emitting project in the past six years ahead of the second-placed Woodside-operated North West Shelf Project.
Year |
WA safeguard reported emissions (CO2-eq) in tonnes |
|---|---|
2016-17 |
41,878,349 |
2017-18 |
46,223,526 |
2018-19 |
48,311,927 |
2019-20 |
45,979,748 |
2020-21 |
45,897,710 |
2021-22 |
48,218,370 |
Source: Clean Energy Regulator
Chevron had been required to inject 80 per cent of the carbon from the reservoirs it drills gas after its first five years of operation.
But the world's largest carbon capture project only stored 32 per cent of the 15.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide that came through Gorgon up to July, 2021.
The company had to buy 5.23 million tonnes of carbon offsets and committed in late 2021 to invested $40 million in lower carbon projects in WA.
Largest safeguard emitters in WA, 2016-17 to 2021-22 |
Reported covered emissions (CO2-eq) in tonnes |
|---|---|
Chevron |
64,519,501 |
Woodside |
56,415,151 |
Alcoa |
25,312,415 |
South32 |
21,787,228 |
BHP |
15,944,024 |
Rio Tinto |
13,036,002 |
Fortescue |
10,003,201 |
Yara |
7,793,026 |
Shell |
7,634,062 |
CITIC |
7,276,427 |
Source: Clean Energy Regulator
The state government and Chevron are still working on arrangements for how the money will be spent.
A Chevron spokesman said reduced carbon dioxide injection rates at Gorgon had contributed to its overall increase in emissions in 2021-22 alongside the restart of an LNG train — a facility which turns gas into liquid.
"We are progressing a project to optimise the pressure management system associated with Gorgon carbon capture and storage," the spokesman said.
"We expect this will enable carbon dioxide storage rates to increase over time."
Chevron has a corporate target to reduce its emissions 5 per cent by 2028 and "aspires" to have net zero for its direct emissions by 2050.
WA's second biggest emitter Woodside is currently building a second LNG train at its Pluto plant near Karratha which will process first gas from the Scarborough fields in 2026.
Woodside has a plan to decrease its direct global emissions 30 per cent by 2030.
Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) executive director Joe Heffernan said WA having two of the three-highest safeguard emitters nationally, in Gorgon and the North West Shelf, was an embarrassment.
"Seeing Gorgon at the top of the list, yet again, is particularly galling when you consider that $60 million in taxpayer's money has been poured into carbon capture and storage technology at the site," he said.
"That technology has failed time and time again while Chevron's profits, and emissions, have continued to pile up."
WA's other big emitters
The Australian government wants to reduce the country's emissions 43 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
The more than 200 national facilities under the safeguard mechanism scheme contribute about 28 per cent of Australia's emissions.
In WA, safeguard emitters contribute to more than half of the state's emissions.
WA's top 10 emitting companies contribute 83 per cent of the state's safeguard emitters.
After Chevron and Woodside comes bauxite miners Alcoa and South32.
Alcoa is hoping to reduce its emissions by 70 per cent at its three refineries.
The company has been investigating the use of a renewable energy-powered method of creating steam which is used in the refining process.
Alcoa is aiming to trial a 4-megawatt Mechanical Vapour Recompression module at its Wagerup refinery later this year.
The miner is aiming to halve its 2015 emissions by 2030.
South32 is looking to switch from coal to gas power for its WA operations and halve its 2021 emissions by 2035.
Iron ore miners in the top 10
Three of the top 10 WA emitters are the country's largest iron ore mining companies BHP, Fortescue, and Rio Tinto.
BHP — which also has a nickel smelter and refinery, and previously the Pyrenees gas facility in WA — has a medium-term goal of a 30 per cent reduction on its 2020 emissions by 2030.
Rio Tinto, which has been the country's largest emitting safeguard company in the past six years across its national operations, wants to bring down its direct emissions 15 per cent by 2025 and 50 per cent by 2030, compared to a 2018 baseline.
Fortescue is the most ambitious of the iron ore miners aiming for no fossil fuels and no carbon offsets by 2030.
The Andrew Forrest-run company is spending $US6.2 billion ($9.24 billion) to reach its goal and has tight deadlines to have battery and hydrogen-operated trucks by 2025, and battery and ammonia-powered trains in 2026.
A WA government spokeswoman said it would introduce legislation later this year to establish a framework for emissions reduction to meet the state's goal of net zero by 2050.
"We're committed to working with all sectors of the economy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050," she said.
"The new legislation will give industry, business, and investors certainty and stability.
"The legislation will also formalise our ambitious aim to reduce government emissions by 80 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030."
The state government is also working on strategies with different industry sectors for emissions reduction with a final package of policies to be released at the end of the year.
