The Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA (CME) welcomes the WA Government’s injection of more than $700 million for essential upgrades to the power transmission infrastructure vital to the energy transition.
Speaking today at the WA Energy Transition Summit, CME Chief Executive, Rebecca Tomkinson, said the funding and establishment of a dedicated taskforce, PoweringWA, was a much-needed investment in WA’s renewable energy capacity.
“Everyone is working towards the 2030 and 2050 emissions targets and we all know renewable energy is a significant factor in achieving net zero,” said Ms Tomkinson.
“The Chamber of Minerals and Energy has been very vocal on this point so today’s announcement is a progression in the sequence of actions required to unlock WA’s energy transition potential.
“We know the demand for reliable energy is increasing and will continue to increase the closer we are to 2030 so it’s a positive step that the WA Government has listened and is taking action,” she said.
Ms Tomkinson said the WA Government’s additional incentives for investment and project development in strategic industrial areas were also encouraging.
“I think the State Government is realistic about the need to exponentially increase production in order to establish our energy transition capability.
“What we need now is a roadmap that clearly defines the path forward – and more than that – clears the path forward in terms of regulatory approvals, policy stability and efficient processes,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“I look forward to further discussions with the WA Government on the details of the latest initiatives and how industry can be involved in the shared vision towards a lower carbon economy.”
