Australia's Origin in landmark carbon-sink deal

SYDNEY, July 16 (Reuters) - Origin Energy (ORG.AX), Australia's second-largest power retailer, has signed a deal to fund a mass-planting of trees that would serve as a hedge for its own carbon-emission liabilities, Origin said on Thursday.

The deal involves Origin paying carbon-credit specialist Carbon Conscious (CCF.AX) planting native Mallee eucalypt trees in the wheat-belt regions of Australia to generate carbon permits under Australia's planned carbon-trading scheme.

Origin said that if the deal was fully implemented, contingent on the national scheme being enacted, it could be Australia's largest carbon forest-sink development program worth up to A$169 million ($136 million) over 15 years. ($1=1.245 Australian Dollar) (Reporting by Mark Bendeich)