The Australian - Chevron wants to build LNG plant on Pilbara coast

IN what could become the nation's biggest development, US oil major Chevron is looking at building a giant 25 million-tonnes-a-year liquefied natural gas export hub on the Pilbara coast from which it plans to start producing from 2015. The project, for which three sites are being considered, would start by producing 10 million tonnes of LNG a year through two trains. It would be underpinned by gas from the company's Wheatstone field in the Carnarvon Basin, Chevron said in documents submitted to the federal Environment Department. And in a move bound to rile rival Woodside Petroleum, Chevron is seeking approval to boost the plant to a five-train operation, if it can source enough third party gas and shore up gas from its own fields outside the Greater Gorgon area.

SMH - Green makeover would save $400 on power bills

Unions want a "green revolution" to sweep the country's homes, saving more than $400 on annual household electricity bills. They have called on the federal government to pay for a mass retrofitting of homes to slash electricity use.

Homes would be kitted out with insulation, double glazing and smart appliances at a cost to the government of $5500 apiece. This would save $429 on annual power bills and dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions, according to Sharan Burrow, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. Ms Burrow, who backs the plan, said an army of up to 20,000 green-collar workers would be needed to retrofit the homes. "You can create thousands of green jobs and save people money," Ms Burrow told AAP.

The Australian - Oil future: less bang for your buck

AT $US100 or more a barrel -- actually, even at $US80 or $US90 -- your immediate instinct would be that companies finding and producing oil would be well on the way to making some good returns for shareholders. But no, says Austock Securities. In fact, its research shows that the oil sector is likely to underperform the market over the next few years. In general terms, writes analyst Simon Oaten, Australian company costs of finding new reserves are between 200 per cent and 300 per cent higher than they were five years ago.

The Australian - Coal seam methane attracts global energy majors

A SCRAMBLE by global energy companies for a foothold in Queensland's coal seam methane (CSM) sector has elevated the industry from relative obscurity to the forefront of the energy spectrum. Once the poor cousin in the power mix, the budding CSM sector has emerged as a potential rival to the massive North West Shelf in Western Australia as an energy source for power hungry Asia.

The Australian - Coal gas emerges from investment gloom

NOT too long ago, the methane contained in coal beds was seen as little more than a nuisance. Now, it's driving billions of dollars of investments in a a new eastern seaboard export industry. Interest in coal-seam gas (CSG) has been building for the past two years, but has been given a real kick-along with the entry of monied foreign players into the game.

SMH - Gas takeover taking shape

QUEENSLAND GAS is a step closer to buying Sunshine Gas, a move that would bolster its coal-seam gas reserves in the race to exploit the country's fastest-growing energy resource.

The Australian - Lower price for Sunshine Gas backed

SMH - Coal trial submerged in debate

UNTAPPED coal reserves under the Pacific Ocean could provide enough energy to power every house in NSW for about 13,000 years, a company that wants to explore a massive area under the seabed says. Energie Future is seeking leave to conduct tests under 5940 quare kilometres of the ocean floor between Newcastle and Wollongong. If successful, the company would be the first in the world to use coal gasification - extreme heat to turn underground coal into gas - under the ocean floor.

SMH - New Hope will share the loot

New Hope has several expansion projects planned, including an increase in production capacity at its New Acland mine near Toowoomba to 7.5 million tonnes, from 4.2 million tonnes. The coalminer also hopes to nearly double capacity at its Queensland Bulk Handling coal terminal at the port of Brisbane to 10 million tonnes a year. New Hope is also investigating coal gasification and liquefaction projects that could convert coal gas into diesel and plans to keep its 17.2 per cent stake in the coal-seam gas producer Arrow Energy.

ABC - Rising production costs hit biofuel industry

The CSIRO says the future of the biofuels industry in Australia is looking shaky because production costs are outstripping the profits being returned for alternative fuels. Senior scientist Dr Tom Beer says large scale production of fuels from food stocks is no longer economically sound.

Australian Financial Review - LPG conversions jump 19pc on year

SMH - Qantas in international fuel trial

As Qantas celebrated the arrival of Australia's largest and most powerful passenger jet yesterday, behind the scenes it was preparing to take part in an international trial designed to cut fuel consumption amid soaring fuel prices. ... The first test, conducted by Air New Zealand two weeks ago, achieved fuel savings of up to 5 per cent and carbon emissions reductions of 4 per cent. This would translate to millions of tonnes of emissions each year if it were implemented across the global industry.

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