Tuesday, 16 April 2002

Energy Minister Pete Hodgson today released the latest edition of the Energy Data File, a compilation of energy statistics published twice a year by the Ministry of Economic Development.

The January 2002 edition of the Energy Data File contains comprehensive statistics on energy supply, demand and prices to September 2001, including:

- Total primary energy supply in the year to September 2001 grew by 0.6%, compared to the preceding 12 months, to 772 petajoules. This includes net imports of oil and oil products.

- Total petrol consumption in the year to September 2001 declined by less than 1%. Premium unleaded petrol consumption declined by 9%, but this was largely offset by a 2% increase in consumption of regular unleaded petrol.

- Consumption of diesel increased by 2% and LPG by 17%.

- New Zealand's production of crude oil, condensate and naptha was relatively unchanged from the preceding year, and our self-sufficiency in oil at 34% was relatively unchanged.

- Coal production in the year to September 2001 was 4.1 million tonnes, an increase of 12% on the previous year. Coal exports grew by 240 kilotonnes, a 16% increase.

- New Zealand gas production in the year to September 2001 rose by 6%, with 78% coming from the Maui field. About 37% was used for petrochemical production, 47% for electricity generation and 16% for industrial, commercial and domestic purposes.

- The gas use for electricity generation (including cogeneration) in the year to September 2001 at 114PJ was 24% higher than in the previous year. Constraints on hydro generation in the cold, dry winter of 2001 caused greater need for gas generation.

- Total electricity generation for the September year 2001 at 38,690GWh was about 2.7% higher than for September year 2000. Preliminary indications are that transmission losses increased and electricity consumption grew by only about 1.3%. Further data on consumption are awaited.

For the calendar year 2000, renewable forms of energy contributed about 135PJ of consumer energy, about 29% of total consumer energy. The proportion has remained essentially static in recent years.

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