Roundtable: Australia-China energy policy

May 23 2019

Australia is the world’s largest coal and LNG exporter and China is Australia’s largest trading partner. What happens in China’s energy sector will have profound impact on Australia’s exports and economy.

In December 2017, China launched a three-year plan to host the world’s largest emissions trading scheme (ETS). China’s ETS highlights the nation’s urgency for energy transition and climate change. Coal accounts for approximately 60 percent of China’s primary energy supply and natural gas accounts for only eight percent of that.

What is the speed and progress of China’s energy transition towards low carbon energy? What is the framework for China’s renewable energy development plan and how will the US-China trade negotiations impact Australia’s energy sector?

In this context, the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS:ACRI) on May 23 2019 hosted a closed-door roundtable discussion on Australia-China energy policy, featuring a presentation from Mr Gao Shixian, Deputy Director General of the Energy Research Institute (ERI) at China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The discussion, conducted under the Chatham House Rule, focused on China’s energy transition and the impact it will have on Australia, as well as potential areas for Australia-China energy cooperation.

Roundtable participants

Representatives from the following organisations were in attendance:

- UTS:ACRI

- Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

- Energy Research Institute, National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China

- Australia Pacific LNG

- China Construction Bank

- King & Wood Mallesons

- KPMG

- PwC Australia

- Rio Tinto

- Woodside Energy