Perth is the resource and energy capital of the Indo-Pacific Region; a business, commercial and cultural centre that is driving a strong growing economy.

Offering world-class infrastructure and facilities, with excellent business and investment opportunities, Perth is situated in the world’s most populous time zone. Our location and proximity to key markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East as well as the UK and Europe provide expedited access amongst key trading regions.

Perth is the capital of Australia’s largest state, Western Australia (WA), covering 2.5 million square kilometres in area and home to more than 2.6 million people (as of March 2020). WA is the world’s most diversified mining and energy province, with more than 50 different minerals produced in commercial quantities. WA is an internationally significant state with a robust resources sector that fuels the Australian economy; with only 10% of the nation’s population, WA routinely accounts for nearly 50% of Australia’s export value.

As a leading world energy city, Perth has the largest concentration of global oil and gas companies, and oil service companies in Australia; including Apache Corporation, BHP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell Australia, Santos, INPEX and Woodside Energy. These companies harness the strategic advantages of locating in Perth; providing capacity to operate projects within Australia, as well as to service and supply oil and gas exploration and production across the Indian Ocean and Pacific regions.

After iron ore, LNG is Western Australia’s second largest resource export. WA exports 13% of global LNG supply. Some of Australia’s largest oil and gas projects are located off the coast of WA, including Gorgon, Wheatstone, Ichthys and Prelude. A $70 billion investment, Chevron’s Gorgon Project, located on Barrow Island 70km off the coast of WA, is the single biggest resources project in the nation’s history and will contribute a fifth of total export volumes as Australian production increases. In 2019, Australia exported 104.7 billion cubic meters of LNG, ranking it just behind Qatar as the world’s second LNG exporter.

Each year, Perth hosts the Australasian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference; March 2021 will mark the 40th anniversary of this world-class oil, gas and energy trade show. Through strong relationships with companies and governments from around the globe, AOG brings together representatives of the entire energy supply chain along with knowledge and industry specialists to forge investment and growth opportunities for the industry.

Western Australia is perfectly located to become the leading supplier of minerals and energy to China, India and South-East Asia. Western Australia has the shortest travel times from any Australian State capital to most Asian and Indian Ocean markets. LNG can arrive by ship to China within one week and 8 days to Japan and Korea.

Perth has also developed as a global hub for scientific and technological innovation in the oil and gas sector in the areas of subsea exploration and production technologies, marine services, petroleum-related research, Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) and geophysical surveying. More notably, WA is increasingly becoming recognised as a global leader in automation, robotics, remote operations and digital technology.

Major petroleum operators, service providers and research institutes have recognised the potential and research capability of Perth, choosing to establish research and development centres, including Chevron, Shell, GE, Oil and Gas, Cisco, Woodside, KPMG and IBM.

WA is now home to seven hard rock lithium projects. In 2017-18, 2.1 million tonnes of Spodumene concentrate were produced. This was an increase of 167% on the previous year.

The WA Renewable Hydrogen Strategy sets out the State Governments strategic areas of focus for the development of the industry in WA. In August 2020, the government announced nine hydrogen initiatives worth $22 million to fuel WA’s renewable hydrogen industry. The excellent conditions for wind farms, solar arrays and extensive mining expertise place WA in a strong position to lead this emerging sector.

Over the course of years, strong economic growth accompanied with continued investment in entertainment and cultural infrastructure, as well as commercial and residential development has seen Perth transform from a small riverside city, into a contemporary, thriving, cosmopolitan capital. The recent announcement of Federally-backed City Deal, valued at AUD $1.5 billion, will continue to create jobs, build human capital and support private investment. Businesses locating or visiting Perth can be assured of connecting with a dynamic resources hub that is growing and evolving.

Links:
City of Perth
Think Perth
University of Perth
Energy Transformation Strategy 
Western Australian Renewable Hydrogen Strategy 
Government of Western Australia, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety