Media release – Angus Taylor MP, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction & Bridget Archer MP, Federal Member for Bass, 31 March 2021
Energy Efficiency Grant Awarded to Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto Bell Bay is one of 48 high-energy businesses across Australia to receive a grant under the Federal Government’s Energy Efficient Communities Program.
Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer said the $11,485 grant will go towards the purchase of a sonic imaging camera for reducing air leaks and power use.
“Generation of plant air for running plant operations uses a significant amount of electricity at the Bell Bay smelter,” Mrs Archer said.
“This sonic imaging camera monitoring device allows simple and easy detection and quantification of leaks so that repairs can be targeted and effective. This reduction in lost plant air will reduce electricity usage on site.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the program was targeted to support businesses that consume more than 0.05 petajoules of energy annually to bring down their power bills.
“For these businesses in particular, energy costs are a high proportion of their operating expenses,” Minister Taylor said.
“This program was targeted and designed to help large businesses such as manufacturers, smelters and food producers to reduce these costs and support jobs and communities across the country that rely on their operations.”
“Supporting industry to reinvest in their businesses, grow, thrive and employ more Australians has never been more important as we emerge from the COVID-19 recession.”
Through the Government’s Energy Efficient Communities Program, 48 businesses that consume more than 0.05 petajoules of energy annually have been awarded grants of up to $25,000 to implement energy efficiency opportunities that will help lower their power bills.
Successful applicants will match the grants with an equally-sized co-contribution.
The Energy Efficient Communities Program was announced as part of the Government’s $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package to deliver on Australia’s 2030 climate commitments.
The full list of successful applicants for the high energy using business grants is available on https://business.gov.au/
Editor’s note: As at the end of 2020, Rio Tino had annual revenues of $57.9 billion with net profit of $12.6 billion. See detailed figures below.
Source: Morningstar Australasia.
