Fuelling economy by backing ethanol
INVESTMENT in Australia’s biofuel industry could produce real jobs for Townsville and ensure fuel security, says Queensland Renewable Fuels Association managing director Larissa Rose.
Ms Rose said investment in Australia’s ethanol economy could create 2080 direct jobs and a further 6570 indirect jobs, while generating up to $1 billion in revenue for regional economies.
“The indirect jobs include co-products. … like renewable plastic bottles … it’s not just biochemists who would benefit,” she said. “It would create more diversification … it adds other industries.”
Katter’s Australian Party Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto cited the flowon economic benefits to Townsville’s economy.
“It’s jobs for places like Ingham or the Burdekin … the economic benefit would flow on from those rural sectors,” he said.
The pair said another benefit would be for sugar cane growers, who don’t currently benefit from other sugarcane products under the Sugar Code of Conduct.
“If it was a grower-owned mill like the North Queensland Bio-energy mill proposed for Ingham, growers would benefit from valueadded products,” Mr Dametto said.
However, these plans were dumped last May with the company blaming the Federal Government’s “constant changing” of climate and energy policy for the decision.
Ms Rose argued with greater ethanol production, Australian growers, like those in Brazil, would have more than one market to feed into.
The push comes amid fears Australia has been left exposed due to our reliance on international fuel supply.
“Australia used to operate its own fuel tankers that sourced fuel and crude oil, sending it to refineries around the country,” Ms Rose said.
“We have slowly converted to buying refined products overseas … fuel comes from Korea, Russia and it is cleaned and refined in Singapore. We don’t have Australian-owned tankers and can’t get them in an emergency.”
Ms Rose fears a geopolitical upheaval disrupting fuel exports would leave Australia stranded.
According to the International Energy Agency, the recommended standard reserve is 90 days’ worth of fuel.
“If we had a locally sourced product like ethanol, then we would have more fuel here – we could push it out to a 30-day reserve,” Mr Dametto said.