Regulators in Australia gave approval last month to the $30 billion Browse gas export project in the state of Western Australia. In an email interview, Vlado Vivoda, a research fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute at Griffith University, discussed Australia’s energy security.
WPR: What is the breakdown of Australia's energy consumption, in terms of fuel types and sources, and is there any policy strategy to shift the balance?
Vlado Vivoda: Australia is mainly reliant on fossil fuels, which make up 96 percent of its primary energy demand. The largest source of energy is coal, with 40 percent, followed by oil, with 37 percent, and natural gas, with 19 percent. Renewable energy accounts for only 4 percent of Australia’s primary energy demand, with approximately 2 percent from hydropower and just below 2 percent from other renewables. Australia has no nuclear power stations due to public opposition.