Greenhouse Gases

WMC's main greenhouse gas emissions are carbon dioxide and methane. Emissions of these gases are combined and reported in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (noting that each tonne of methane has the same global warming potential as 21 tonnes of carbon dioxide). Our reported carbon dioxide emissions include indirect emissions generated by third parties from whom we purchase electricity

During 2004, our greenhouse gas emissions were over 2.78 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. These emissions were more than five per cent lower than emissions in the 2003 reporting period. Most of this improvement can be attributed to a 27 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at the Kwinana Nickel Refinery, which is largely due to the operation of a methane flare installed in the hydrogen plant during 2003.

Greenhouse Challenge

We continued to participate in the Australian Government supported Greenhouse Challenge and to seek economic opportunities to reduce or eliminate our greenhouse gas emissions. Since agreeing to participate in the challenge in 1997, we have implemented programs and upgrades that have reduced our greenhouse emissions by an estimated 25 per cent.

Of the 119 energy savings and greenhouse reduction initiatives identified by WMC Resources under the Greenhouse Challenge program, 82 per cent have been undertaken, 13 per cent dropped or merged and 5 per cent were outstanding as at December 2003.

Links to other sites:

• Government Greenhouse Challenge Web Site