Australia prices up
July 29 (LNGJ) - The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) said around 240,800 households across the country changed power companies last month because of soaring prices. The operator said that the total included about 87,000 households in the state of Victoria, 85,000 in New South Wales, 51,000 in Queensland and 17,000 in South Australia. Coal accounts for about 50 percent of Australia's electricity generation, followed by natural gas (16 percent), hydro-electric (5 percent) and 2 percent from oil while the balance mostly comes from renewables.
Latest Australian natural gas prices in the short-term market were around the equivalent of US$23.35 per million British thermal units for Sydney in NSW, US$23.75 per MMBtu for Adelaide in South Australia and US$23.05 per MMBtu for Brisbane in the state of Queensland, according to AEMO data.
Australian utility AGL reports large first-half loss but pledges progress on Crib Point LNG terminal
Leading Australian utility company AGL Energy posted a large fiscal first-half loss due to impairments but in post-earnings statements the company said it expected to make a final investment decision soon on the liquefied natural gas import project at Crib Point in the southeast Australian state of Victoria.
