We are the voice for change for the Australian sugar manufacturing sector

Australian Sugar Manufacturers (ASM) have told Queensland’s Primary Industries and Resources Committee that bioenergy can secure the future of the sugar industry, and called for a coordinated government-industry approach to make it a reality.

Appearing before the committee today, ASM CEO Ash Salardini outlined how Queensland’s sugar sector could power up to 500,000 homes with renewable electricity, supply 40% of Australia’s aviation fuel needs, and establish world-leading manufacturing facilities – all while supporting more than 20,000 regional jobs.

“I don’t know of too many other power plant options that provide baseload and renewable electricity capacity and supports 20,000 jobs,” Mr Salardini said.

Australian Sugar Manufacturers (ASM) is calling for a strategic partnership with Defence to secure an indigenous biofuels capability in Northern Australia – a proposal that would enhance national security, reduce reliance on imported fuels, and create shared infrastructure benefits for both sectors.

“Our political leaders have unequivocally stated the need to enhance our defence capabilities in the face of an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment, yet we have done very little to secure the liquid fuel supply chains that our defence forces run on and rely upon,” said Mr Ash Salardini, CEO of the ASM.

Australia has around two weeks’ worth of liquid fuel reserves and is wholly reliant on overseas supply chains. This is a critical national security vulnerability for Australia.

Australian Sugar Manufacturers (ASM) has released its election priorities which target continued growth for regional economies and reinforce sugar’s status as a key element of regional manufacturing in Queensland.

The $4.4 billion sugar industry employs over 20,000 people and contributes around $2.5 billion annually to Australia’s export revenues. Beyond sugar, the sector offers major opportunities in baseload renewable electricity and biofuels.

The Australian Sugar Manufacturers (ASM) have urged the Queensland Government to recognise the sugar industry’s unique potential to deliver renewable, synchronous baseload electricity. By expanding its cogeneration capacity, the sector can play a key role in ensuring an affordable, reliable, and smooth energy transition for Queenslanders. 

“Sugar manufacturers can provide Queenslanders with 2.6 terawatt hours of electricity per year by expanding our cogeneration capabilities,” Ash Salardini, CEO of ASM said. “That’s enough to power around 500,000 homes with reliable, affordable, renewable energy.”

Australians could be paying more for their electricity because governments and political parties are overlooking the benefits of renewable electricity cogeneration from bagasse – a sugar manufacturing byproduct. This blind spot could push Queensland’s projected wholesale electricity prices up by 15% over the next decade. If governments partner with us, we could deliver a 10-15% reduction in forecast wholesale electricity prices in the coming decade for Queenslanders, saving consumers hundreds of millions of dollars a year.