The Australian government has offered AU$2bn in credits to the country’s aluminium industry to increase the transition to eco-friendly production.
Facilities will be eligible for support for every tonne of clean, reliable Australian-made aluminium they make over a period of 10 years.
Australian prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the plan at Australia’s largest biggest smelter, Tomago Aluminium, earlier today (Monday).
“Labor’s plan for a Future Made in Australia is very clear: we want Australia to make more things here,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.
“Investing in the Australian-made aluminium industry is a massive opportunity – to create well-paid jobs in our regions and suburbs, and set Australia up for the future.
“We’ve got the resources, the workers, and the know-how – the only thing we don’t have is time to waste.
“We are building Australia’s future, not taking Australia backwards.”
Australia is the world’s sixth largest aluminium producer.
Tomago Aluminium CEO, Jerome Dozol, said: “We are at the very centre of Australian manufacturing, providing nearly 600,000 tonnes of aluminium each year right here in the Hunter region.
“This investment will provide support for onshore aluminium being manufactured at Tomago, and we will begin a new phase through the development of low-carbon aluminium.”
Australian Aluminium Council chief executive Marghanita Johnson said the move was ‘an important step in support of the industry’s transition to the competitive, reliable, lower-carbon energy needed for the aluminium industry to secure a sustainable future’.