1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2007   
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Contents >> Energy >> Resources

RESOURCES

Australia has large identified resources of fossil fuels and uranium. It is ranked in the top six countries in the world for economic demonstrated resources (EDR) of black and brown coal, and has the world's largest EDR of uranium. Australia also has significant reserves of natural gas and crude oil. For a more detailed outline on Australia's energy and mineral resources, see the Mining chapter.

Australia has substantial resources of high quality black coal. At June 2004, the EDR of black coal totalled 1,090,800 petajoules (PJ), with most of these resources located in New South Wales and Queensland. Small but locally important black coal resources occur in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. Brown coal occurs mainly in Victoria with other deposits in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.

Map 17.1 shows the extent of access to gas resources and major transmission pipelines in Australia. At June 2004, the EDR of natural gas totalled 99,520 PJ, with the Carnarvon Basin accounting for over 50% of total reserves. The total length of Australia's transmission pipeline system has increased from 9,000 kilometres (km) in 1989 to almost 29,000 km in 2005. The natural gas distribution network reaches 3.7 million (mill.) customers, including 3.6 mill. domestic customers and 100,000 commercial and industrial customers.

17.1 GAS RESERVES AND PIPELINES - June 2004

17.1 GAS RESERVES AND PIPELINES - June 2004



In the period 1994-2004 the EDR of black coal, brown coal, and crude oil each decreased, while the EDR of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), condensate, natural gas and uranium each increased (table 17.2). Changes in EDRs can be due to production activity and discoveries, and reclassification of resources due to reassessments (such as with black and brown coal in 1999 when some resources previously considered economic were reclassified as subeconomic).


17.2 ECONOMIC DEMONSTRATED RESOURCES OF PRIMARY ENERGY PRODUCTS(a) - 30 June

1994
2004
Change from
1994 to 2004
Fuel
PJ
PJ
%

Black coal
1,331,100
1,090,800
-18.1
Brown coal
399,640
363,750
-9.0
Crude oil
10,601
6,864
-35.3
Condensate
5,347
9,287
73.7
LPG
4,094
6,864
67.6
Natural gas
44,360
99,520
124.3
Uranium
296,570
329,470
11.1

(a) Non-renewable resources only.
Source: Australian System of National Accounts, 2004-05 (5204.0).


The net present value (NPV) of an energy resource is the expected value of the resource based on current market value, with some modifications based on depletion and economic forces. At June 2004, the NPV of Australian energy and mineral resources was $193 billion (b) (table 17.3). The energy resources with the highest NPV were natural gas and black coal, accounting for 41% and 25% of the total NPV of energy resources respectively. In the period 1994-2004, the value of energy resources in Australia increased from $54b to $193b (up by 357%).


17.3 NET PRESENT VALUE OF PRIMARY ENERGY RESOURCES - 30 June

1994
2004
Change from
1994 to 2004
Fuel
$m
$m
%

Black coal
7,830
48,889
624.4
Brown coal
428
258
-39.7
Crude oil
17,546
30,587
174.3
Condensate
3,429
19,815
577.9
LPG(a)
1,190
11,260
946.2
Natural gas
22,104
79,493
359.6
Uranium
1,631
3,165
194.1
Total
54,158
193,467
357.2

(a) Naturally occurring.
Source: Australian System of National Accounts, 2004-05 (5204.0).



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