Catch up
Capital
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Korean steel giant Posco opened a critical minerals R&D lab in Perth with the aim of advancing low-carbon processing technologies. It will also pursue rare earths supply chain development. (Korea Herald)
 Projects
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The Victorian government cleared the construction of Viva Energy’s LNG import terminal in Geelong, saying it would free up gas supply for industries that can’t make the switch to renewables. It will receive up to 160 petajoules per annum - approximately 88% of Victoria’s 2024 gas consumption in a state where 2.2 million households and 65,000 businesses still rely heavily on gas. Subject to a Final Investment Decision, construction could begin in 2026, with terminal operations to commence in 2028 when the market is expected to be short of gas, according to Viva.
“Gas is part of our energy transition, but supply is dwindling and prices are going up.” — Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio
The NSW government approved an extension to Glencore's Ulan coal mine near Mudgee, allowing it to operate until 2035 and extract an additional 18.8 million tonnes of coal, after approving extensions to two coal-specific mining exploration licences held by South Korea’s KEPCO in the Bylong Valley. (Mudgee Guardian) (ABC)
Policy
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US President Donald Trump blurted out the latest move in tariff policy at a steel mill rally in Pennsylvania, threatening to double the rate on steel to 50%. (BBC) (The Australian) (ABC) (AFR)
“This is the wrong course of action and we’re calling on the Trump administration to reverse the decision and drop all tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium products … We’re going to do exactly what we did with China. We’re going to coolly and calmly argue our case for the removal of these tariffs,” — Trade Minister Don Farrell told reporters
Fun fact: Steel, aluminium and vehicle tariffs were imposed using different laws to those at the heart of a court case on Trump’s sweeping act of economic self harm.
On Friday, the Trump administration announced it would cut US$3.7 billion in funding for industrial decarbonisation and carbon capture. (Canary Media) (New York Times)
Meanwhile, terms of reference for Resources Minister Madeleine King’s review of the east coast gas market are expected to be released by the end of June. AEMO has warned of shortfalls from 2029, prompting speculation about a gas reservation. Industry Minister Tim Ayres didn’t rule it out. "What we're not going to do is do what the Coalition did during the election campaign, which was policy on the run,” he told Sky News.
Technology
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Data is going to play a massive role in how the transition unfolds and another big area is what’s happening at the grid edge, Gentrack’s Mark Humphreys said in the lead up to Australian Energy Week.
“Behind-the-meter technology, like smart inverters and home energy management systems, is evolving fast. But what’s really exciting is the potential of large-scale virtual power plants. We’re moving beyond small pilots now and starting to see how thousands of distributed devices can be orchestrated together to support the grid, reduce peak demand, and create new revenue streams for customers. That’s where the future is heading, and it’s happening faster than a lot of people think. — Gentrack General Manager - Australia Mark Humphreys
Climate
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Official data showed Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions were up slightly although industrial emissions were tracking below 2021-22 levels, reflecting the reformed Safeguard Mechanism. The trend was encouraging in electricity, Bowen said in a statement, after renewable energy hit a record 46% of the grid in the three months to December. Emissions from electricity generation rose by 2.2%, reversing a 10-year trend, on lower hydro generation and higher demand met by more coal and gas.
Experts said the ongoing drought across parts of Victoria and SA was causing “a seemingly endless 2025 fire season”. (Sydney Morning Herald)
People
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A former managing director of Victoria Legal Aid, Bevan Warner, has been appointed Ombudsman Western Australia, effective June 9.
Research
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Most Australian organisations would disclose emissions data even if a new government scrapped requirements to do so, according to the local findings of Workiva’s 2025 Executive Benchmark Survey. But one third of Australian executives don’t fully trust their financial data and 94% believe their company’s climate reporting tech is insufficient - well above the global average of 73%.
“This could again come down to the imminent nature of climate disclosure regulations compared to other countries; the closer they get, the more pressure they feel. But it's a prime opportunity for those organisations to take a look at upgrading the technologies and tools they can avail of to alleviate that pressure.” — Mark Mellen, Industry Principal, Sustainability, Workiva
Australian research showed 5 roadblocks standing in the way of energy efficient homes: cost; confusing information about upgrades; the need to hire multiple suppliers; fewer opportunities for straightforward upgrades and lack of knowledge among tradespeople. (The Conversation)
Grasses living in the shade of solar panels grew better in dry years than those in full sun, according to a four-year US study by researchers at the University of Colorado. The study considered cool-season grass, with future work to look at shortgrass in drier locations. (The Conversation)