Liquid Fuels Scope 1 (Direct — fuel combustion)

Natural Gas Liquids (Other NGLs)

Reviewed by Afonso Firmo, Co-Founder & Director · Updated 7 July 2026

Other natural gas liquids emit 2,849.52 kg CO₂-e per tonne combusted (NGA Factors 2025). Worked examples, calculator and NGER-ready guidance.

Emission Factor Value

2,849.52 kg CO₂-e/tonne

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Natural gas liquids combusted Unit

Estimated emissions

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Natural gas liquids combusted in equipment you own or control are Scope 1. Calculated as tonnes × 2,849.52 kg CO₂-e/t (NGA Factors 2025, Table 8).

Official Source & Citation

This emission factor is sourced from the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025 , Table 8 — Liquid fuels and certain petroleum-based products, published by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Citation: DCCEEW (2025). Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025. Commonwealth of Australia. Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/national-greenhouse-accounts-factors-2025

View official publication ↗

Notes

Derived from NGA Factors 2025 Table 8: energy content 46.5 GJ/t × combined Scope 1 emission factor 61.28 kg CO₂-e/GJ (61.0 CO₂ + 0.08 CH₄ + 0.2 N₂O) = 2,849.52 kg CO₂-e per tonne. Applies to "other natural gas liquids" — condensate-range hydrocarbons separated from natural gas, excluding LPG, which has its own factor. No upstream Scope 3 factor is published for this fuel in the NGA Factors 2025.

Calculation Example

If a gas processing facility combusted 75 tonnes of natural gas liquids during the year:

Working	Result
75 t × 2,849.52 kg CO₂-e/t = 213,714 kg CO₂-e	213.71 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

Natural gas liquids — the ethane-plus condensate streams separated from raw gas during processing — are a niche fuel, but for gas producers and processors that burn them on site, they are a genuine Scope 1 source with a dedicated line in the national factors.

The value below comes from the NGA Factors 2025 and applies to the 2025–26 reporting year, expressed per tonne because NGL composition varies by field. A Scope 1 and 2 calculator can handle the mass and energy conversions for you.

Quick Verdict

Other natural gas liquids emit 2,849.52 kg CO₂-e per tonne when combusted, reported under Scope 1. The value is derived from an energy content of 46.5 GJ/t — the highest of the Table 8 liquid fuels — and a combined emission factor of 61.28 kg CO₂-e/GJ in the NGA Factors 2025. The factor covers NGL streams other than LPG, which has its own line, and applies mainly to upstream gas operators burning liquids for process heat or power. No upstream Scope 3 factor is published for this fuel.

How to Calculate Natural Gas Liquids Emissions

Emissions (kg CO₂-e) = Tonnes of NGLs × 2,849.52

Or in NGA energy terms: E (t CO₂-e) = t × 46.5 GJ/t × 61.28 kg CO₂-e/GJ ÷ 1,000.

Worked Example 1: Commissioning Burn

A new processing train combusts 10 tonnes of NGLs during commissioning.

10 t × 2,849.52 = 28,495.2 kg CO₂-e

28.50 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

Worked Example 2: Gas Processing Facility

A facility burns 75 tonnes of natural gas liquids for process heat over the year.

75 t × 2,849.52 = 213,714 kg CO₂-e

213.71 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

Worked Example 3: Large Operation

A gas producer combusts 400 tonnes of NGLs across its sites.

400 t × 2,849.52 = 1,139,808 kg CO₂-e

1,139.81 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

How NGLs Compare to Other Tonne-Based Petroleum Fuels

Fuel	Scope 1 factor (kg CO₂-e/t)	Energy content (GJ/t)
Petroleum coke	3,176.50	34.2
Crude oil (incl. condensates)	3,165.56	45.3
Other natural gas liquids	2,849.52	46.5
Refinery gas and liquids	2,349.20	42.9

All values from NGA Factors 2025, Table 8.

NGER and AASB S2 Reporting

NGL combustion is Scope 1 fuel use under the NGER scheme, reported in energy terms using the Table 8 factors — separate from any flaring or venting of the same streams, which are fugitive sources with their own methods. Under AASB S2, it forms part of the mandatory Scope 1 disclosure, and an emission factor control workflow keeps the fuel classifications consistent across both.

Crude Oil

3,165.56 kg CO₂-e/tonne

Refinery Gas & Liquids

2,349.2 kg CO₂-e/tonne

LPG (Stationary)

1.5574 kg CO₂-e/litre

Natural Gas

51.53 kg CO₂-e/GJ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the emission factor for natural gas liquids in Australia?

Other natural gas liquids emit 2,849.52 kg CO₂-e per tonne combusted under the NGA Factors 2025. The value is derived from an energy content of 46.5 GJ/t and the combined Scope 1 emission factor of 61.28 kg CO₂-e/GJ in Table 8.

What counts as "other natural gas liquids"?

Hydrocarbon liquids separated from natural gas during processing — ethane-plus condensate streams and mixed NGLs — other than liquefied petroleum gas. LPG has its own Table 8 line (60.6 kg CO₂-e/GJ), so propane and butane sold as LPG should not use this factor.

Which scope do natural gas liquids fall under?

Combustion of NGLs in equipment your organisation owns or controls is Scope 1 (direct emissions). This typically applies to gas producers and processors burning NGL streams for process heat or power at their own facilities.

Why is the NGL factor expressed per tonne rather than per litre?

The NGA Factors publish natural gas liquids on a mass basis because their composition and density vary between gas fields and processing plants. If your records are volumetric, convert to tonnes using the measured density of your NGL stream and document the conversion.

How do I convert tonnes of natural gas liquids to gigajoules?

Natural gas liquids have an energy content of 46.5 GJ per tonne — the highest of the Table 8 liquid fuels. So 100 tonnes equals 4,650 GJ. NGER reporting works in energy terms, and 46.5 GJ/t × 61.28 kg CO₂-e/GJ gives the per-tonne factor of 2,849.52 kg CO₂-e.

Is there a Scope 3 upstream factor for natural gas liquids?

No. The NGA Factors 2025 do not publish an upstream Scope 3 factor for other natural gas liquids, unlike refined fuels such as diesel. Organisations wanting full value-chain coverage need to source or model the upstream component separately.

How do NGLs compare with LPG and crude oil per gigajoule?

Other natural gas liquids sit at 61.28 kg CO₂-e/GJ — very close to LPG at 60.6 and well below crude oil at 69.88. Their lighter hydrocarbon composition means less carbon per unit of energy than heavier petroleum liquids.

Do I report NGL combustion under NGER and AASB S2?

Yes. If your organisation meets NGER thresholds, NGL combustion is reported as Scope 1 energy use to the Clean Energy Regulator using the Table 8 factors. Under AASB S2, it forms part of the mandatory Scope 1 disclosure in your climate statement.

Disclaimer

This page is provided for general information, not professional or compliance advice. The factor shown is reproduced from the official publication cited above, and while we work to keep it current, government factors change — the publication is always the authoritative source.

Before using this value in any formal reporting — including under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 — confirm it against the current official publication and the methods specified by the Clean Energy Regulator.
NetNada is independent of the Australian Government, DCCEEW, and the Clean Energy Regulator. Government data is Crown copyright, Commonwealth of Australia.

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