Australia: A modest-resource but influential energy exporter

According to data from the UK-based Energy Institute, Australia’s coal exports stood at 4.75 exajoules (EJ) in 2000; surpassed 6 EJ in 2006; exceeded 7 EJ in 2010; and jumped past the 8-EJ threshold directly to over 9 EJ in 2013. Thereafter—except in 2017—Australia’s coal exports consistently remained above 9 EJ, peaking in 2015 at 9.95 EJ, the highest annual volume on record. In 2022, however, Australian coal exports declined below 9 EJ, falling to 8.39 EJ. Prior to 2022, Australia was the world’s largest coal exporter. In 2015—the year of its highest coal export volume—Australia accounted for 31.82% of global coal exports, nearly one-third. In 2021—the final year Australia held the top position globally—it exported 9.65 EJ of coal, still representing 28.68% of the world total. In 2022, Indonesia overtook Australia to become the world’s largest coal exporter, with Indonesian coal exports reaching 9.19 EJ. Coal produced in Australia is primarily destined for export. In 2000, Australia’s coal production totaled 7.19 EJ, while its coal exports amounted to 4.75 EJ—representing 66.06% of output. In 2015—the peak export year—coal production reached 12.8 EJ, and exports hit 9.95 EJ, accounting for a striking 77.73% of production. 2. Rapidly expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, sustaining three years as the world’s top LNG exporter Historically, natural gas production began in Western Australia as early as 1984. In 1989, the Northwest Shelf LNG Trains 1 and 2—jointly developed by Shell, Woodside, and BP—commenced operations and delivered Australia’s first LNG cargo to Japan. This marked Australia’s entry into the LNG industry—seven years ahead of Qatar, which long held the title of world’s largest LNG exporter. The most dramatic expansion in Australia’s LNG production capacity and export volumes occurred between 2011 and 2019, during which its LNG export capacity surged from 2.6 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) to over 11.4 bcf/d. During this period, starting in 2012, five LNG export projects were built on the Northwest Shelf: onshore projects included Pluto, Gorgon, Wheatstone, and Ichthys; the offshore project was Prelude FLNG. In 2015 and 2016, three additional LNG export projects came online on Curtis Island in Queensland—Queensland Curtis, Gladstone, and Australia Pacific LNG—all utilizing coal seam gas as feedstock for LNG production. By the end of 2019, Australia had completed ten LNG projects, achieving an aggregate liquefaction and export capacity of 88 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa).

Global LNG production capacity and trade

Name Chinese Name Status Startup Capacity (Mtpa) Storage (thousand m³) Wheatstone LNG Terminal Wheatstone LNG Export Terminal Operational 2017/10/9 8.9 0 Gorgon LNG Terminal Gorgon LNG Export Terminal Operational 2016/3/7 15.6 0 Pluto LNG Terminal Pluto LNG Export Terminal Operational 2012/5/31 4.3 240 Pluto LNG Terminal Pluto LNG Export Terminal Operational 2024/1/1 8 480 North West Shelf LNG Terminal Northwest Shelf LNG Export Terminal Operational 1989/1/1 5 0 North West Shelf LNG Terminal Northwest Shelf LNG Export Terminal Operational 1992/1/1 7.5 0 North West Shelf LNG Terminal Northwest Shelf LNG Export Terminal Operational 2004/1/1 11.9 0 North West Shelf LNG Terminal Northwest Shelf LNG Export Terminal Operational 2008/1/1 16.3 0 Prelude FLNG Prelude FLNG Export Terminal Operational 2018/12/15 3.6 228 ICHTHYS LNG ICHTHYS LNG Export Terminal Operational 2018/10/23 8.9 0 Darwin LNG Terminal Darwin LNG Export Terminal Operational 2006/1/1 3.24 188 Queensland Curtis LNG Terminal Queensland Curtis LNG Export Terminal Operational 2014/11/1 8.5 280 Gladstone LNG Terminal Gladstone LNG Export Terminal Operational 2015/8/1 10 780 Australia Pacific LNG Australia Pacific LNG Export Terminal Operational 2016/1/1 9 320 ・ Northwest Region There are four LNG export terminals in the Northwest region: 1. Wheatstone LNG Terminal The Wheatstone LNG Terminal is located 7.4 miles west of Onslow, Western Australia. It processes natural gas from the Iago, Julimar, and Brunello gas fields—located 220 km offshore in the Pacific Ocean. Gas is transported via a 140-mile subsea pipeline from offshore platforms to the terminal. Production is expected to continue for at least 30 years. Chevron holds the largest stake (64.5%) and is the operator. Commercial exports commenced on 9 October 2017, with operations projected to last until at least 2047. 2. Gorgon LNG Terminal The Gorgon LNG Terminal is situated on Barrow Island, Western Australia, with an annual capacity of 15.6 million tonnes. Its first LNG cargo departed on 7 March 2016, marking the official start of operations. Chevron operates the facility, holding a 47.3% stake; Shell and ExxonMobil each hold 25%; Osaka Gas holds 1.25%; JERA holds 1.45%; and Tokyo Gas holds 1%. 3. Pluto LNG Terminal The Pluto LNG Terminal processes gas from the offshore Pluto and Xena gas fields. Gas is conveyed via a 180-km pipeline to the terminal. Its annual capacity is 4.3 million tonnes. Woodside holds 90% (and serves as operator); Tokyo Gas and Kansai Electric Power each hold 5%. Woodside has signed 15-year gas supply agreements with Tokyo Gas and Kansai Electric Power. 4. Northwest Shelf LNG Terminal The Northwest Shelf LNG Terminal was Australia’s first LNG export facility. Train 1 and Train 2 commenced operations in 1989, each with 2.5 Mtpa capacity (total 5 Mtpa); Train 3 began operation in 1992, raising capacity to 7.5 Mtpa; Train 4 started up in 2004, increasing capacity to 11.9 Mtpa; and Train 5 entered service in 2008, bringing total capacity to 16.3 Mtpa. Equity in the Northwest Shelf LNG project is shared equally among six partners—Woodside, Shell, Chevron, Rio Tinto, Japan Australia LNG, and BHP—each holding 16.7%. Woodside serves as the operator. 5. Prelude FLNG

Shell agrees sale of North West Shelf stake for $1.45 billion

19 hours ago

Shell agreed to sell its 16.67% stake in Australia's North West Shelf LNG project to ADNOC's XRG for $1.45 billion, with closing expected in 2027. The deal aligns with Shell's strategy to focus capital on higher-return opportunities while continuing global LNG expansion.

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Shell agrees sale of North West Shelf stake for $1.45 billion

Shell agrees sale of North West Shelf stake for $1.45 billion

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