Crown Jakarta Capital Eco Crown Jakarta Capital Eco Management NewsManagement NewsSugar mill nuts out plan to cut carbon footprint

A sugar mill at Bundaberg in southern Queensland is using macadamia nuts to create hotter and cleaner renewable fuel.

The general manager of Bundaberg Sugar, David Pickering, says in an industry first, nutshells are being burnt to generate fuel for the sugar refinery.

The mill was forced to burn coal for six weeks after January's floods and Mr Pickering says the natural gas solution being used is better for the environment.

"We use bagasse, which is a by-product after milling cane - we use that in the non-crush to run our refinery," he said.

"What we do is sometimes we add woodchip and other renewable resources, but we're now using nutshells for the first time just to supplement fuel and make it burn well and make it burn cleanly in the boiler.“

He says it should help reduce emissions.

"This year we had to burn some coal while we were carrying out some repairs to the bagasse system after the floods," he said.

"Since then we've been able to use bagasse with woodchip and alternatively as well with macadamias, so that will leave us clear of any carbon tax we believe."

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:ORIGINAL ARTICLE:http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-14/sugar-mill-nuts-out-plan-to-cut-carbon-footprint/4753836?section=qld

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