Australia’s Coal, Crude Oil and Gas Exports

The Energy Industry

Australia’s Energy Industry contributes significantly to the country’s economy.  The industry generates employment to 106,000 people and provides significant infrastructure.  In 2009-10 the energy industry’s coal and petroleum sector contributed $47 billion which is 3.5 per cent of the country’s gross value added.  The industries in electricity and gas exports and domestic supply also contributed $22 billion to the gross value added.

According to APPEA, Australia has vast resources with 400 trillion cubic feet of estimated reserves.  This volume is enough to provide power to a city with a population or one million for eight thousand years.  Geologists believe that the land has more mineral reserves to add to this base estimation after future explorations are made.

Like most sectors in Australia’s energy industry, gas exports along with its production is growing steadily, however gas only generates less than 9 per cent of the country’s electricity.  Other uses for the gas supply is used in manufacturing products such as glass, steel, plastics, paint, fabric and a variety of other products.

Australia’s Energy Exports

Australia is a net energy exporter and it exports 68 per cent of the industry’s total energy production.  On the other hand, Australia is a net importer of crude oil and refined petroleum products.  Coal is the largest exported commodity in the energy industry at a value amounting to $44 billion in 2010-2011. This is followed by crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports or LNG.  Energy exports accounted for 33 per cent of the country’s total commodity exports. 

At present, Australia is the fourth largest supplier of liquefied petroleum gas exports in the world and the petroleum industry’s goal is to be the first largest LNG exporter by 2020.  The industry is targeting a production volume of at least 60 million tonnes per annum.

LNG Innovations and Projects

As the world leader in LNG innovation, the industry’s goal to be first is within reach.  The LNG supply industry has over a dozen innovative projects that are either under construction or at varying stages of planning and development.  Currently, Australia has three producing LNG developments, the North West Shelf Venture, Darwin LNG and Pluto which started production in April 2012.

There are seven Australian LNG schemes that are currently under construction which are expected to start production in 2015 and 2016.  In total, Australia has about $200 billion worth of LNG projects in various stages of development.

Companies is the LNG supply industry are engaged in developments such as LNG fuel trucks and the first floating LNG project using a specially designed ship with LNG production facilities.