8412.0 - Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia, Sep 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/12/2001   
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  • Expenditure On Mineral And Petroleum Exploration Falls (Media Release)

MEDIA RELEASE

December 19, 2001
Embargoed 11:30am (AEST)
145/2001

Expenditure On Mineral And Petroleum Exploration Falls

Figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that the trend estimate for mineral exploration expenditure fell for the September quarter 2001, with the estimate being 2% lower than that for the June quarter 2001.

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure for the September quarter 2001 decreased by 8% ($15m) to $167m. The decrease was mainly due to a 13% ($20m) fall in expenditure reported on 'all other areas' (i.e. areas other than production leases). The majority of the decrease on 'all other areas' occurred in Western Australia, down 8% ($7m).

Exploration expenditure for gold decreased by $10m (11%), silver-lead-zinc by $4m (26%) and coal by $3m (21%). A total of 1.4 million metres were drilled for mineral exploration, 7% lower than the June quarter 2001.

Expenditure on petroleum exploration decreased by 13% ($34m) to $232m during the September quarter 2001. The decrease in total petroleum exploration expenditure was mainly due to a 14% ($31m) decrease in offshore expenditure. In addition, expenditure on 'all other areas' decreased by 11% ($24m) and expenditure on 'production leases' decreased by 20% ($10m).

Of the published regions, Western Australia reported a decrease of 13% ($20m) and South Australia reported a decrease of 52% ($13m) in petroleum exploration expenditure.

Further information can be found in Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia, September Quarter 2001 (cat. no. 8412.0) available from ABS bookshops. This media release and the main features of the publication are available on this site. If you wish to pruchase a copy of this publication contact the ABS Bookshop in your capital city.