Addressing delegates at the CERAWeek 2008 Conference in Houston, Dr Daniel Yergin –chairman of the Cambridge Energy Research Associates – said the Asia-Pacific region was becoming increasingly critical to all global energy markets.

“And Australia’s natural gas endowments are set to play a major role,” he said.

“We are very pleased to have the contribution of the Australian oil and gas industry in the global energy dialogue of CERA week.”

Also presenting at the conference was Australian Petroleum & Exploration Association chief executive Belinda Robinson who highlighted Australia’s global significance as a natural gas supplier.

She said Australia was in an ideal position to supply natural gas to the Asia-Pacific region while also offsetting greenhouse emissions.

“Australia’s liquefied natural gas exports have the potential to more than triple to 60 million tonnes per year over the next decade, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions across the Asia-Pacific region by as much as 120 million tonnes per year,” Robinson told delegates.

She said impediments to realising this ambition – including labour and skills shortages, domestic fiscal settings and regulatory issues – were being addressed by industry and government under the framework of the industry’s 10-year Strategic Leadership Plan.

“The challenge is for industry and government to redouble our efforts to achieve the industry’s potential,” Robinson said.