Shale could double Australia’s gas resources – Minister

Australian shale gas resources could potentially be significant and could double the country’s overall gas resource, which is estimated to last for another 184 years, Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson reported this week. The...

Australian gas users fear shortage as LNG exports grow

Australia is on its way to becoming the world's top exporter of liquefied natural gas, but industrial consumers on the country's east coast are worried gas producers will ship so much to Asia's booming economies that domestic supplies will be...

Ferguson says CSG ‘critical’ to meet future east coast demand

Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson has warned coal seam gas (CSG) detractors that Australia’s ability to meet future east coast gas demand would be “critically” dependent on the extent to which the industry is allowed to...

Australian govt releases 27 areas for exploration

The federal government on Monday announced the exploration acreage release, comprising 27 areas across nine basins in Commonwealth waters off Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Using the Australian...

Ferguson awards 12 offshore exploration permits

Twelve new offshore petroleum exploration permits have been awarded in waters off Western Australia and Victoria, which would see some A$303-million in new investment over the next three years. Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin...

Pluto produces first LNG

Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson has welcomed the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) production from ASX-listed Woodside’s Pluto project, in Western Australia. “This project is very important to the energy industry and the...

Govt urges miners to comment on Woomera plans

The federal government has urged the mining industry to comment on plans to allow exploration and mining activities in the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA), in South Australia. “Industry engagement is critical to ensuring the interim arrangements...

Woodside delays Browse LNG decision to 2013

Oil and gas major Woodside has received federal and state approval to delay its final investment decision on the proposed $30-bilion Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson and Western...

Environmental ‘guerrilla tactics’ threatening resources investments – Ferguson

Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson has lashed out at environmental bodies using “guerrilla tactics” to frustrate economic development and job creation, specifically in the resources sector. Speaking in Brisbane on Wednesday,...

APPEA outlines policy issues crucial to industry’s competitiveness

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) has urged the federal government not to confuse market gaps with market failures in its Energy White Paper. In its submission to the federal government, APPEA lauded the...

Ferguson distances himself from Swan attack on mining bigwigs

Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has distanced himself from comments made by Treasurer Wayne Swan, who accused mining bigwigs of using their own wealth to pursue vested interests. In an essay recently published in The Monthly, Swan...

Govt exploration report doesn’t tell the whole story – Amec

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec) on Monday criticised federal government data showing increased exploration spend, stating that the Geosciences Australia report, released last week, did not tell the whole story. The...