The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Member for Ballarat
The Albanese Government is helping Australian businesses cut gas use, lower their energy bills and slash emissions, with $12 million in new funding for leading manufacturers and another $180 million now open for regional industries to follow suit.
McCain Foods, Sugar Australia and Blackmores will receive support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to trial cleaner, more efficient industrial processes:
- McCain Foods will install advanced heat recovery at its Ballarat potato plant, cutting steam and heat needs by more than 20%.
- Sugar Australia will replace gas-fired evaporators with an electric system at its Yarraville refinery.
- Blackmores will install a high-efficiency heat pump at its Braeside factory, slashing gas use by up to 25%.
Another $180 million in ARENA funding is now open under the Industrial Transformation Stream to help more regional manufacturers modernise operations, reduce gas reliance and stay competitive in a net zero economy.
Industrial processes make up 44% of Australia's emissions. With support from ARENA, the Safeguard Transformation Stream and other Future Made in Australia programs, emissions from industry are already falling - down 4.7% in the year to March 2025.
