Refinery Gas and Liquids
Reviewed by Afonso Firmo, Co-Founder & Director · Updated 7 July 2026
Refinery gas and liquids emit 2,349.20 kg CO₂-e per tonne combusted (NGA Factors 2025). Worked examples, calculator and NGER-ready guidance.
Emission Factor Value
2,349.2 kg CO₂-e/tonne
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Estimated emissions
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Refinery gas and liquids combusted in equipment you own or control are Scope 1. Calculated as tonnes × 2,349.20 kg CO₂-e/t (NGA Factors 2025, Table 8). Add 772.2 kg CO₂-e/t separately for upstream Scope 3.
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
Notes
Derived from NGA Factors 2025 Table 8: energy content 42.9 GJ/t × combined Scope 1 emission factor 54.76 kg CO₂-e/GJ (54.7 CO₂ + 0.03 CH₄ + 0.03 N₂O) = 2,349.20 kg CO₂-e per tonne. Refinery gas is the hydrogen-rich fuel gas generated by refining processes and burned in the refinery's own heaters — its high hydrogen content gives it the lowest per-GJ factor of the petroleum fuels. The upstream (Scope 3) factor is 18 kg CO₂-e/GJ (772.2 kg CO₂-e/t), reported separately under Scope 3.
Calculation Example
If a refinery combusted 150 tonnes of refinery gas in its process heaters during the year:
| Working | Result |
|---|---|
| 150 t × 2,349.20 kg CO₂-e/t = 352,380 kg CO₂-e | 352.38 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1) |
Every operating refinery generates its own fuel — the hydrogen-rich gas and light liquids that come off crackers, reformers and distillation units. Piped straight to the site’s heaters and furnaces, that internal fuel stream is usually the refinery’s biggest Scope 1 source.
The values below come from the NGA Factors 2025 and apply to the 2025–26 reporting year. Multi-fuel industrial sites can keep every stream on the right line with emission factor control.
Quick Verdict
Refinery gas and liquids emit 2,349.20 kg CO₂-e per tonne when combusted, reported under Scope 1. The factor is derived from an energy content of 42.9 GJ/t and the combined emission factor of 54.76 kg CO₂-e/GJ in Table 8 of the NGA Factors 2025 — the lowest per-gigajoule value among the petroleum fuels, thanks to the stream’s high hydrogen content. Flaring is excluded and follows separate NGER methods. A separate upstream factor of 18 kg CO₂-e/GJ (772.2 kg CO₂-e/t) is reported under Scope 3.
How to Calculate Refinery Gas Emissions
Emissions (kg CO₂-e) = Tonnes combusted × 2,349.20
Or in NGA energy terms: E (t CO₂-e) = t × 42.9 GJ/t × 54.76 kg CO₂-e/GJ ÷ 1,000.
Worked Example 1: Process Unit
A single process unit burns 20 tonnes of refinery gas during a campaign.
20 t × 2,349.20 = 46,984 kg CO₂-e
46.98 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)
Worked Example 2: Heater Bank
A bank of fired heaters combusts 150 tonnes of refinery gas over the year.
150 t × 2,349.20 = 352,380 kg CO₂-e
352.38 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)
Worked Example 3: Annual Refinery Use
A refinery’s fired equipment consumes 1,000 tonnes of internally generated fuel gas.
1,000 t × 2,349.20 = 2,349,200 kg CO₂-e
2,349.20 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)
How Refinery Gas Compares to Other Petroleum Fuels
| Fuel | Scope 1 factor (kg CO₂-e/GJ) | Per tonne (kg CO₂-e/t) |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum coke | 92.88 | 3,176.50 |
| Crude oil (incl. condensates) | 69.88 | 3,165.56 |
| Other natural gas liquids | 61.28 | 2,849.52 |
| Refinery gas and liquids | 54.76 | 2,349.20 |
All values from NGA Factors 2025, Table 8.
NGER and AASB S2 Reporting
Refinery gas combustion is Scope 1 energy use under the NGER scheme, reported with the Table 8 default or facility-specific factors from higher-order methods — flaring and venting sit in separate NGER categories. Under AASB S2, it forms a substantial share of the mandatory Scope 1 disclosure, and a Scope 1 and 2 calculator keeps the fuel-by-fuel breakdown consistent.
Related Emission Factors
Frequently Asked Questions
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.