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Annual energy statistics released
14 July 2011 - The Energy Data File 2011 was released this week – detailing the supply, transmission and use of all types of fuel in New Zealand. It also contains energy prices, international comparisons, and oil and gas reserves.
“Our fossil fuel sector continues to be crucial in supplying our energy needs and makes a valuable contribution to our economy,” says Acting Minister of Energy and Resources, Hekia Parata.
Key highlights for the oil, gas and minerals sectors include:
Coal
New Zealand produced 5.3 million tonnes of coal from 21 mines in 2010, 17 percent more than the previous year. Of that, 2.4 million tonnes was exported. The increase in production is mostly due to production levels at Solid Energy’s Stockton and Spring Creek mines returning to usual levels after disruption from industrial action and drops to export orders brought on by the global financial situation in 2009. State-owned enterprise Solid Energy produced more than 82 percent of national production. The amount of coal used to generate electricity was the lowest since 2000.
Oil
New Zealand produced 19 million barrels of oil in 2010 – enough to meet just over half of domestic demand. Demand was only marginally higher in 2010 than for the previous year. Production in the remaining oil reserves dropped slightly in 2010 (by three percent).
There has been negligible growth in petrol and diesel consumption since 2005. Petrol and diesel each accounted for about 40 percent of demand with aviation fuel, LPG and other oil products each making up small proportions.
New Zealand recorded the fifth lowest petrol price in the OECD in 2010.
Gas
Gas production in 2010 increased by seven percent, mainly due to strong production at the Kupe field.
Almost half of the gas consumed in New Zealand last year was used to generate electricity, an increase of 16 percent compared to the previous year. A quarter was used by the industrial sector.
While the Maui gas field has dominated production in the past, total production and remaining reserves at Maui have dropped in recent years and total yield is increasingly spread across a greater number of fields.
Find out more
Read the full press release from The Beehive.
Read the Energy Data File 2011.
