Energy

Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg said the federal government would be pushing states to remove moratoriums on unconventional gas extraction, including fracking, he told the LNG 18 conference today.

Residents at Alkimos Beach and White Gum Valley are set to participate in trials of solar energy technology and battery storage that could lead to large reductions in power bills.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has signed an agreement for the supply of liquefied natural gas to an Indonesian corporation for an undisclosed sum.

Total chief executive Patrick Pouyanne has flagged that the next batch of LNG projects may not be as far off as some think, speaking at the LNG18 conference today.

Woodside chief executive Peter Coleman told the LNG 18 conference in Perth today there could be opportunities for LNG producers to move further into downstream markets, particularly in developing countries, where demand for gas existed but barriers to entry had slowed take up.

Western Power advised its staff yesterday that an estimated 215 roles are no longer needed as the utility continues a three-year program that has already cut more than 300 jobs.

LNG 18 conference organising committee chair Grant King is positive about the industry's future, despite the low oil price environment and a predicted short-term oversupply, saying international demand growth for electricity will underpin a need for gas.

Consumers should expect to pay less for their electricity in the long term as a result of sweeping changes to Western Australia's energy market that aim to slash the cost of supply, Energy Minister Mike Nahan says.

Gas production at Chevron’s Gorgon project has been put on ice for at least a month just weeks after first gas was exported from the facility, the company announced today.

Perth-based engineering services company Clough has strengthened its relationship with Woodside Petroleum, winning two contracts for work on the energy giant’s onshore and offshore assets.

Global engineering company Wood Group has expanded its presence in Australia through the acquisition of Perth-based SVT Engineering Consultants.

Special Report: The head of Japanese company Inpex’s Australian operations says Australia remains a very attractive investment destination, and has suggested the company’s Ichthys project could be expanded when conditions are right.

The head of Shell’s Perth-based communications and government relations team has been named the next chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

SPECIAL REPORT: Western Australia’s next major greenfields liquefied natural gas project could be a decade away after Woodside last month decided against further progressing its Browse floating LNG facility.

About 54 local jobs will be axed when RCR Tomlinson shuts down 14 operations across the country, with the company seeking to significantly reduce its exposure to the depressed coal market.

Energy giant Santos has finalised a new executive team and corporate structure that centralises management in Adelaide, though it has a strong Western Australian flavour as five members of the executive committee have worked in Perth.

Alcoa of Australia has agreed to sell its stake in DBP, the owner and operator of the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP), to DUET Group for $205 million.

The hotel industry expects up to a quarter of Perth’s hotel rooms to be filled by delegates attending next month’s LNG18 conference, though the number of people attending and the flow-on economic benefits to the state remain unclear.

Wesfarmers subsidiary, Kleenheat, has secured 19 per cent of the state’s business market in just its third year of operation, according to general manager Mark Gadsby.

Swiss multinational ABB Group has won a five-year contract to provide equipment and services for Shell’s Prelude floating LNG project, which will operate in the Browse Basin off the Kimberley coast.

China's largest private gas company, ENN Group, is set to become Santos's biggest shareholder after agreeing to buy an 11.7 per cent stake in the Australian energy giant.

Premier Colin Barnett clings to hope the Woodside Petroleum-led Browse liquefied natural gas joint venture will be revived, but says he's not surprised it has been shelved.

North Fremantle-based Carnegie Wave Energy has acquired a 35 per cent stake in solar power and lithium battery storage provider Energy Made Clean through a $4.5 million investment.

Engineering and infrastructure group RCR Tomlinson has won a contract to provide early work on a solar farm in Queensland for Origin Energy for an undisclosed sum.

Chevron’s $55 billion Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project has finally shipped its first cargo, two weeks after production commenced at the first of three gas processing trains.

Four Mid West companies have won nearly $6 million in contracts for work on AWE's Waitsia project, where first gas is expected in the third quarter of this year.

South Australia’s push for renewable energy is an experiment worth watching for the other states.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has secured $10 million worth of new work, including a contract with Western Power.

Troy Hayden will step down from the helm of Tap Oil as the company swings the axe on jobs and operations so it can meet its now-restructured debt repayment obligations.

Iron ore miners will be aiming to keep costs down as uncertainty over currency and oil prices, and falling demand, continue.

Domestic gas producer Empire Oil & Gas has reported a 13 per cent lift in half-year revenue on the back of higher plant utilisation, and remained in the black despite the falling oil price.

Solar-powered battery storage devices are being installed in Esperance to provide power to a handful of people previously connected to the electricity infrastructure razed by last November’s bushfires.