Industrial explosives manufacturer Orica has eliminated one million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from its Newcastle site, thanks to the deployment of new technology.
The significant emissions reduction is the result of Australia’s first ever deployment of tertiary abatement technology on three nitric acid plants. This technology utilises catalytic decomposition to reduce nitrous oxide (a potent greenhouse gas) from nitric acid production.
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.
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,” Orica Group Executive Germán Morales said.
“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.”
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