FACT 3

Natural gas is a significant contributor to Australian manufacturing, providing 42% of the energy required for the sector. ¹ Its flexibility and versatility makes it a crucial fuel source for powering industrial processes and supporting the country’s manufacturing activities.

Whether providing highly controllable heat to manufacturers of construction essentials like bricks or manufacturing glass or powering mines and hospitals, natural gas is essential to Aussie industry and infrastructure.

Natural gas is used in Australian manufacturing to produce a wide range of products such as plastics, chemicals, fertilisers, and pharmaceuticals. It is a key energy source for various industrial processes, including heating, drying, and melting in sectors like steel, cement, glass, and ceramics.

Natural gas plays a crucial role in powering machinery and equipment in manufacturing plants, including boilers, furnaces, turbines, and generators. It is utilised in manufacturing processes that involve high-temperature operations, such as metal smelting and refining.

Natural gas is employed in the production of building materials like bricks, tiles, and insulation materials. It is used as a feedstock in the production of synthetic materials, including fibres, fabrics, and polymers.

Natural gas is essential for producing food and beverages, as it provides energy for baking, cooking, refrigeration, and sterilisation in the food processing industry. It serves as a fuel for transportation within manufacturing facilities, powering forklifts, trucks, and other internal logistics vehicles.

Natural gas is utilised in the manufacturing of paper and pulp, providing energy for processes such as drying and bleaching.

This website is an initiative of Australian Energy Producers.

¹ Australian Energy Update 2022, Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, September, Canberra