MINING
MINERAL AND PETROLEUM EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE
Mineral exploration expenditure (trend) in Western Australia has continued to grow strongly, rising in each of the six quarters to June 2007, by an average rate of 8.5% ($15 million) per quarter. By comparison, over the preceding six quarters, state mineral exploration expenditure rose only 1.8% ($3 million) on average per quarter. In the June quarter 2007, Western Australia's expenditure on mineral exploration rose 7.8% ($17 million) to $237 million, higher than national growth of 5.0% ($22 million) to $471 million.
MINERAL EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE, Total minerals
Western Australia's mineral exploration expenditure (original) rose 61.1% ($96 million) through the year to June quarter 2007. Most of the growth was driven by exploration on iron ore (up 79.7% or $38 million) and nickel, cobalt (up 110.0% or $27 million). There was also considerable growth in exploration expenditure on silver, lead and zinc (up 155.2% or $9 million), gold (up 10.7% or $7 million) and copper (up 203.4% or $6 million).
Petroleum exploration expenditure (original) more than tripled in Western Australia, rising 211.4% ($357 million) to a record high of $525 million through the year to June quarter 2007.
MINERAL AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTION
Production increased across most mineral and energy commodities in Western Australia through the year to June quarter 2007. The largest increases were recorded in the production of zinc (up 75.0%), crude oil (up 40.7%), iron ore (up 7.8%) and electricity (up 7.6%). In contrast, diamond (down 40.0%) and gold (down 4.9%) production were down through the year.
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