Up to 50 emissions-intensive industrial activities, such as steel, aluminium, cement and zinc manufacturing,  will be eligible for assistance under the Federal Government’s new $9.2 billion Jobs and Competitiveness Program.

 

Companies that collectively produce more than 80 per cent of the manufacturing sector’s emissions are expected to be eligible for assistance under the program.

 

The program will provide $9.2 billion of assistance over the first three years of the carbon pricing mechanism, targeted at companies that produce a lot of carbon pollution but are constrained in their capacity to pass through costs in global markets.

 

The most emissions-intensive trade-exposed activities will receive assistance to cover 94.5 per cent of industry average carbon costs in the first year of the carbon price, with less emissions-intensive trade-exposed activities to receive assistance to cover 66 per cent of industry average carbon costs. Assistance will be reduced by 1.3 per cent each year to encourage industry to cut pollution.

 

In addition to the Jobs and Competitiveness Program, a $1.2 billion Clean Technology Program will help to improve energy efficiency in manufacturing industries and support research and development in low pollution technologies. $200 million of the Clean Technology Program will support jobs in food processing, metal forging and foundry industries.

 

Further information is at www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au