Companies join forces to cut greenhouse gases. 21/04/2006. ABC News Online

Alinta and Alcoa have combined forces to launch a gas-fired cogeneration plant at the Pinjarra alumina refinery, south of Perth, with a view to cutting greenhouse emissions.

The plant uses waste heat from Alcoa's gas turbines to produce electricity for Alinta's customers on the south-west grid, as well as steam for the refinery to use in processing alumina.

Cogeneration produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than generating electricity and steam separately.

Western Australia's Energy Minister Fran Logan says it is a very efficient way to use gas.

"If you add up the savings, the greenhouse gas emission savings from this cogeneration plant, and the way in which Alcoa use that steam efficiently, it's the equivalent of taking 120,000 cars a year off the road," he said.

Alinta plans to build a second plant at Pinjarra and two units at Wagerup.