Australia’s future oil supply and alternative transport fuels

7 February 2007

View the report as a single document - (PDF 1371KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:


Membership of the Committee	(PDF 158KB)

Executive summary	(PDF 197KB)

Recommendations	(PDF 90KB)

Chapter 1 - Introduction	(PDF 138KB)
Structure of the report

Chapter 2 - Future oil demand and supply	(PDF 229KB)
Oil and gas basics Oil and gas in context of total energy use World oil production and consumption Oil production and consumption in Australia and projections

Chapter 3 - ’Peak oil’ concerns about future oil supply	(PDF 365KB)
Peak oil views and responses in summary Is ’ultimately recoverable resource’ a useful concept? Estimating the ultimately recoverable resource: issues Estimates of the ultimately recoverable resource Relating the ultimately recoverable resource to peak: the Hubbert curve Estimating the timing of peak oil Investment needed to maintain production The prospects of nonconventional oil Implications for the price of oil New warnings in World Energy Outlook 2006 General comment on peak oil concerns Will market forces sort things out?

Chapter 4 - Economic and social impacts of possible higher fuel prices and reduced oil	(PDF 232KB)
Introduction The effects of recent price increases Macro economic impacts of rising oil prices Impacts on industry Impacts on communities The risk of supply side disruptions Avoiding adverse impacts Committee comment

Chapter 5 - Supply side responses - overview and exploration	(PDF 204KB)
Overview Exploring for more oil in Australian territory

Chapter 6 - Supply side responses - Alternative fuels from gas, coal and shale	(PDF 294KB)
Introduction Gaseous fuels - LPG, natural gas and hydrogen Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Synthetic fuels derived from coal or gas Oil Shale

Chapter 7 - Supply side responses - Alternative fuels - Biofuels	(PDF 237KB)
Introduction Ethanol Biodiesel Committee comments on alternative fuels in general

Chapter 8 - Demand side responses	(PDF 349KB)
Increasing the fuel efficiency of vehicles Reforming urban road use charges: congestion charges Encouraging walking, cycling and public transport in cities Integrating transport planning and land use planning to reduce car use More use of rail for long distance freight Other matters: fringe benefits taxation of employer-provided cars General comment on demand management measures

Appendix 1 - List of Submissions	(PDF 150KB)

Appendix 2 - Witnesses who appeared before the Committee at the Public Hearings	(PDF 160KB)

Appendix 3 - CSIRO response to question on notice on 12 May 2006	(PDF 400KB)

Appendix 4 - Documents Tabled at Public Hearings	(PDF 177KB)

Appendix 5 - Index of Documents Provided During Inquiry	(PDF 148KB)

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3511

Fax: +61 2 6277 5811

Email: rrat.sen@aph.gov.au

Phone:	+61 2 6277 3511
Fax:	+61 2 6277 5811
Email:	rrat.sen@aph.gov.au