The CEO of Australia's Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA), Ms Samantha Read, has delivered a keynote speech at the Australian Domestic Gas Conference 2015, in Sydney today.
The speech highlighted the critical role of natural gas through Australia’s value chains to support a diverse, resilient and more competitive Australia.
“It is important that the gas debate is more informed about all the ways gas is used in the economy, including as energy exports, chemical feedstocks, industrial process energy, as well as commercial and residential energy. There needs to be a better understanding of the connection between natural gas, jobs and our quality of life,” said Ms Read.
“The Australian chemistry industry adds value to 10% of the country’s domestic gas, using it as an essential and non-substitutable feedstock. In some states, such as New South Wales, this can be as high as 25%.
“Natural gas as feedstock is a very different usage to that of energy value. The industry uses natural gas for its unique molecular properties to create, through chemistry, totally new materials and products.
“The products of this advanced chemistry add significant value to Australia’s resources and enable other sectors in the economy to succeed.
“In the end this means more jobs, for more Australians, delivering higher value products into domestic and global markets,” said Ms Read
Contact: Claire Selby, [email protected], 0448 028 876.
Released 24 March 2015
About PACIA
PACIA is the pre-eminent national body representing Australia¹s $40bn chemistry industry, whose businesses directly employ 60,000 people and contribute approximately 11.5% of total Australian manufacturing production. PACIA members comprise a broad range of companies positioned across the entire value chain. Members include chemicals manufacturers, importers and distributors, logistics and supply chain partners, raw material suppliers, plastics fabricators and compounders, chemicals and plastics recyclers and service providers to the industry. These businesses range from small family-owned companies and innovative medium-sized enterprises, to leading national and multinational enterprises.