Media Release: Australia wins bid to host 2026 global carbon capture conference

The Australian oil and gas sector’s leadership in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) – a key emissions reductions technology – is set to be showcased on the world stage.

Australian Energy Producers is pleased to announce it will co-host the world’s leading CCUS conference in Perth in 2026, in partnership with the CSIRO, CO2CRC and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

The Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT) Conference, run by the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme, brings together over 1,000 CCUS researchers, industry leaders, government officials, and stakeholders from around the world to discuss and share the latest developments with the technology.

Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said Australia’s selection to host GHGT-18 reinforced its standing as a global leader in CCUS research, development and deployment.  

“Australia has two of the largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects operating globally – Chevron’s Gorgon Project and the Santos and Beach Energy joint venture Moomba Project,” she said.

“These projects are today storing emissions equivalent to taking one million cars off the road each year.

“CCUS is a key technology in efforts to reach net zero in Australia and the region.

“The International Energy Agency, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and CSIRO have all found that there is no pathway to net zero without CCUS.”

The 2026 event will be the third time Australia has hosted the global conference, having hosted it in Cairns in 2000 and Melbourne in 2018.

The announcement last week in Canada during the closing session of GHGT-17 coincided with a major CCUS milestone for Australia, with the Moomba CCS Project achieving first injection and full ramp up.

“Australia has a comparative advantage in CCUS, with world class geology, industry experience, and strong links with regional trading partners looking to collaborate on CCUS,” Ms McCulloch said.

“Scaling up CCUS is an opportunity to not just reduce emissions but also create new jobs and attract new investment.”

Australia’s hosting of the conference is supported by Business Events Perth, reflecting the opportunity for GHGT-18 to amplify Western Australia’s global standing as a premier destination for impactful global events.

Contact: 0401 839 227