THE future of clean coal could soon be secured with a new facility based in Collie to enhance the potential of coal as a clean fuel for power generation.
Plans are currently underway for Collie to be a base for the soon-to-be-developed WA Centre for Carbon Capture and Sequestration.
The proposed centre is a new coal testing and education facility which will try to unlock technologies and research that will be better for the environment and expel less greenhouse gases.
It will look at the potential for carbon capture and storage, or geosequestration, as well as deliver professional and technical training programs in clean coal technology. The main operation centre will be located at Curtin University of Technology, close to other resources-based research and technology centres such as the Western Australia Energy Research Alliance. State Energy Minister Fran Logan said he was keen for the facility to have a branch in Collie, the home of WA’s coal industry.
Curtin University deputy vice-chancellor Linda Kristjanson said the university had been researching improved coal performance for many years and had been training students, many from overseas, in coal research and coal technologies.
Coal Futures Group chairman and Collie-Wellington MLA Mick Murray said he was excited at what Curtin and the other groups could bring to Collie in the future.
Member for Capel and shadow treasurer Dr Steve Thomas said he had been calling for WA and Collie to get their fair share of the national Clean Coal Fund.
“After having been caught asleep at the wheel on carbon capture and storage, the Labor Party is now desperate to be seen to be doing something, especially as the Garnaut Report is to be released in draft form,” he said.
“I have been informed that this new investigation is really an attempt to lever more money from the Federal Government’s $500 million Clean Coal Fund.”
Dr Thomas said the process should have started a year ago when it was first raised.
However Mr Murray said Dr Thomas was well off the mark because the plan was an election promise back in 2005.
“It has been well documented in my pre-election promises and we are well underway to getting the centre up and running,” he said.