Tiwai smelter loses $60m-plus carbon subsidy

The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter will have to pay more for carbon as the government rethinks its free allocation. (Image: Getty)

Ian Llewellyn

Fri, 25 Mar 2022

The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is losing a carbon emissions subsidy that will cost its owners at least $60 million a year.The government’s review of the smelter’s free allocation of New Zealand Units (a proxy for a tonne of carbon emitted) has major implications for other major emitters and the wider Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) settings.The government has gazetted the changes and released Cabinet papers associated with the decision, which the smelter’s owners have accepted, while pointing out the implications for other N...

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