4604.0 - Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounts, Australia, 1992-93 to 1997-98  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 16/05/2001   
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MEDIA RELEASE

May 16, 2001
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
50/2001

ABS releases landmark energy use publication

Drawing on a wide range of information sources, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today released a comprehensive snapshot of Australian energy consumption, usage patterns and associated greenhouse gas emissions (Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounts, Australia, 1992-93 to 1997-98, cat. no. 4604.0).

In addition to comprehensive information on direct energy consumption and generation of selected greenhouse gas emissions by industries and households, the indirect impacts of household consumption, Australia's exports, capital formation and government final consumption are also explored.

Australia is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for its energy resources. Over 90 percent of total energy consumed in Australia is based on an energy source derived from fossil fuels, reflecting Australia's economic structure and the significant role coal plays as a fuel source, particularly for power generation.

About 40 percent of Australia's total primary energy use is for electricity generation. About 30 percent of the energy used in Australia is lost in the conversion of primary energy to secondary energy mainly through electricity generation.

The combustion of fossil fuels contributed over 70 percent of Australia's energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in 1997-98. Electricity generation contributed 50 percent of these emissions, followed by transport activity at about 25 percent.

Results show that Australian households are responsible - either directly or indirectly through the consumption of goods and services that require energy to produce - for the generation of most of our energy-related greenhouse gas emissions (around 56 percent), mainly through household electricity use (about 17 percent) and motor vehicle use (about 12 percent).

Just under one quarter of Australia's energy-related emissions are generated in the production of goods and services for export. The most greenhouse-intensive of these are basic non-ferrous metals and products, the production of which generates around 6 percent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.

The estimated total value of Australia's coal, oil, gas and uranium energy reserves was nearly $76 billion in June 1998.

Note for editors:

An index of story ideas from the publication is available overleaf. Details are in Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounts (cat no. 4604.0) available from ABS bookshops. If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication, contact the ABS Bookshop in your capital city.

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounts, Australia (cat. no. 4604.0)

Guide to story ideas from the publication.
  • Indicators of energy use, electricity generation and consumption and carbon dioxide generation compared to the rest of the world: pp. 7-9 and p. 55.
  • State estimates: p. 14.
  • Imports of energy products and domestic production of energy: pp. 26-28.
  • Direct use of energy products and domestic production of energy: pp. 32-43.
  • Direct generation of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide by detailed industry group and households: pp. 48-53.
  • Thermal efficiency of electricity generation: p. 57.
  • Carbon dioxide emissions from transport compared to the rest of the world: p. 59.
  • Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from road transport: p. 60.
  • Total direct and indirect energy consumption by final use (exports, households, other): p. 65.
  • How households use energy, directly and indirectly: p. 68.
  • Energy exports and energy embodied in exports and imports: p. 69.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions induced by final use (households, exports, other): p. 77.