CANBERRA: Western Australia’s McGowan Government has announced that local mineral and petroleum industry sales have increased by 19 per cent over 2015-16 figures, with $105 billion in recorded sales.
Overall, iron ore saw the highest spike, with sale increases of 31 per cent and volume increases of 6 per cent, reaching 790 million tonnes (Mt). In addition, liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales increased by 18 per cent and gold by 7 per cent respectively. The volume of LNG produced reached 28.7 Mt, a record figure cementing a trend in rising LNG production, which has seen a sizeable volume increase of 45 per cent over the last five years. Minister for Transport, Planning and Lands Rita Saffioti was quoted as being pleased with the increase in activity. B“It’s wonderful to see so many sections of the resources industry doing well, with gold and iron ore, in particular, showing strong signs,” she said. “Creating and supporting jobs for Western Australians is the McGowan Government’s number one priority.” WA has seen an increase in not only in production volume and sales over the 2015-16 year, but in employees too. The number of minerals sector employees rose modestly in 2016-17 to 108,769 people an increase of 4 per cent.
