Resources

The Australian Government is committed to creating a policy framework to expand Australia's resource base, increase the international competitiveness of our resources sector and improve the regulatory regime, consistent with the principles of environmental responsibility and sustainable development.

Resources Facts and Statistics

The resources sector covers exploration, extraction and processing of oil and gas and minerals such as coal, uranium, iron ore, nickel, bauxite, gold, lead, copper, zinc, mineral sands, and diamonds. Major processing industries include cement, conversion of bauxite into alumina and then aluminium, iron ore into iron and steel, crude oil into liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and transport fuels, and gas into liquefied natural gas (LNG). All Australian states and territories except the Australian Capital Territory extract oil, gas and minerals.

Mining and oil and gas extraction directly account for eight per cent of Australia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Australian Mining Statistical Overview

The following table provides a break down of mining's contribution to the Australian economy in 2007-08.

	Contribution to GDP (A$m)	Exports^a (A$m)	Employment (^'000)	New capital expenditure^a (A$m)
Coal, oil & gas	77 057	45 591	26	N/A
Metal ore mining		72 199	10	N/A
Other mining		72 199	47^b	N/A
Services to mining	6 363	N/A	43	N/A
Total	83 420	117 790	127	27 353

_{Sources: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (2009) Australian Commodities 09.2; ABS 5204.0, 5368.0, 5625.0 and 6291.0.55.003; a - Exports in current price measures; b - Other mining employment includes 'mining not further defined'; n.a. - not available}

In 2008-09, the value (free on board in Australian dollars) of Australia's major resource exports were:

Coal (thermal and metallurgical) $52.1 billion
Iron ore $33.7 billion
Alumina and aluminium $11.3 billion
Gold $17.5 billion
Nickel $2.3 billion
Crude oil and other refinery feedstock $9.0 billion
Copper $5.5 billion
LNG $9.9 billion
Zinc $1.9 billion
Iron and steel $1.4 billion.

_{Source: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (2009) Australian Commodities 09.2}

At the end of April 2009, there were 74 projects at advanced stages of development with capital expenditures totalling $80 billion, of these:

Forty-two (42) were energy projects totalling $43.4 billion in capital expenditure. Twelve (12) petroleum developments which accounted for $32 billion in capital expenditure. Coal mine and coal infrastructure accounted for 24 per cent (or $10.4 billion) of the capital cost of all advanced energy projects.
Twenty-five (25) were mineral extraction projects totalling $29.4 billion in capital expenditure. Ten (10) iron ore contracts accounted for 70 per cent (or $20.4 billion) of the total.
Seven (7) were minerals processing projects totalling $7.2 billion. The two largest projects, both alumina refineries, together accounted for 80 per cent of the expected capital expenditure on all the advanced mineral processing projects. In the six months to April 2009, there were no new mineral processing projects added to the list of advanced projects.

_{Source: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics 2009 ‘Major development projects: April 2009 listing’.}

It should be noted that changes in the operating environment may affect project development and interested parties should refer to company websites and the following Australian Government research agencies for the latest information:

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) - Australian Government economic research agency, providing rigorous and independent economic research analysis and forecasting.
Geoscience Australia - an agency within the Resources, Energy and Tourism portfolio that has a critical role in producing first class geoscientific information and knowledge.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) - Australia's statistical agency.

Page Last Updated: 12/08/2009 7:05 AM