Australia’s Energy Commodity Resources

Last updated:15 March 2024

Australia’s Energy Commodity Resources (AECR) is Geoscience Australia’s annual publication presenting a stocktake of our nation’s non-renewable energy commodity resources – gas, oil, coal, and uranium – as well as information on the potential for carbon capture use and storage (CCUS) and the production of hydrogen in Australia.

AECR provides important data on Australia’s position in the global energy supply chain as a reliable trade and investment partner with a diverse mix of energy resources and strong exports. It demonstrates that Australia’s traditional energy resources will have a central role in supporting the transition to net zero emissions and contributing to our future energy security. It also highlights the nation’s huge potential to become a renewable energy superpower, particularly through the production of hydrogen.

  • The 2024 update to Australia's Energy Commodity Resources will be published mid-year

Australia’s Energy Commodity Resources 2023

AECR 2023 provides estimates of the nation’s energy commodity resources as at the end of 2021. Resource estimates are grouped according to commodity type, reserves and annual production. Highlights of the assessment, include:

  • Australia maintained its position as one of the world’s largest Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exporters
  • Australia was the world’s largest exporter of metallurgical coal and the second largest exporter of thermal coal
  • Australia was the world’s fourth largest producer of black and brown coal and uranium
  • Approximately 85% of Australian produced energy was exported
  • Clean energy projects continued to expand across Australia to meet the growing domestic and global demand for net zero energy resources.

Distribution of Australia’s major non-renewable energy resources in 2021 (by basin or deposit), which contain a total of more than 1,500 PJ of demonstrated resources. (Geoscience Australia).

AECR 2023 Digital Publication

AECR 2023 Data Tables [XLSX 240.1 KB]

For information on Australia’s mineral resources refer to Geoscience Australia’s annual publication Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources.