‘There is no replacement for gas today’: CME boss Rebecca Tomkinson fronts WA Domgas inquiry
Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA's chief Rebecca Tomkinson says that gas's role in the energy transition is not clear to most people, and more awareness of how the commodity helps the State move to cleaner energy is necessary.
Speaking at a parliamentary inquiry into WA's domestic gas policy, Ms Tomkinson supported the policy that mandates major producers reserve 15% of their output for local use, especially as supply concerns loom towards the decade's end.
Highlighting the necessity of gas in the transition period and expressing concerns that the public may not be fully aware of its ongoing role in the energy landscape up to 2030 and beyond, Tomkinson urged for better communication to match public expectations with future possibilities of energy sources, pointing out gas's relatively lower emissions compared to coal.
During the inquiry, questions were raised about enhancing public education on energy transition, to which Tomkinson responded that the CME and businesses have a significant responsibility to inform and guide the community through this transformation.
Her remarks followed statements from companies like South32 and Wesfarmers, which expressed concerns over gas supply certainty and called for more government action against high gas prices and market manipulation by large producers.