Anglo backs carbon capture

Johannesburg - Resources group Anglo American (AGL) on Tuesday said it was throwing its weight behind the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI), which was launched this week.

GCCSI will be administered and funded by the Australian government and is a global initiative aimed at facilitating the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage projects.

Bringing government and industry together, the institute will support targeted research and development.

A founding member, Anglo American said the institute would enable a far greater level of knowledge-sharing and communication, thereby building public awareness and acceptance of carbon capture and storage as a contributor to the range of solutions needed to address climate change.

"Anglo American believes carbon capture and storage is a vital technology for mitigating emissions from the use of all fossil fuels - coal, gas and oil," said Anglo American head of energy Roger Wicks.

Wicks, who was recently appointed chairperson of the International Energy Agency's Coal Industry Advisory Board, said these fuels will continue to provide most of the world's energy for decades to come, and there is no doubt that coal-based energy in particular will drive the ongoing industrialisation of key developing countries such as China and India.

"The deployment of carbon capture and storage is therefore essential to the stabilisation of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. We welcome and look forward to supporting the Australian government's continued leadership on this issue," Wicks said.

- I-Net Bridge