Transfer of responsibility for the publication of energy statistics
This is the last quarterly New Zealand Energy Statistics information release that Statistics New Zealand will publish. The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) will take over the dissemination of energy statistics and they will publish information relating to the December 2007 quarter on 18 March 2008. The New Zealand Energy Quarterly publication will be published on the MED website at: www.med.govt.nz/energy/nzeq/. This product will be similar to the Statistics NZ Hot Off The Press, and will include information relating to oil, gas, coal, and electricity.
Energy statistics have always been of general interest. However, in this era of environmental concern, the need for robust, easy-to-interpret information about energy production, generation, use, pricing, and emissions has increased significantly.
For a long time, both Statistics NZ and MED have been collecting and publishing energy statistics. This information was collected for slightly different purposes and so produced slightly different numbers. Over the past few months, officials from both agencies have been working together to eliminate the resulting confusion and duplication of effort, while maintaining the continuity of supply to all users of this information.
It has been agreed that MED will take over as the primary agency for energy production and generation statistics. Statistics NZ will remain the primary agency for energy end-use statistics, like those collected in the Manufacturing Energy Use Survey.
Electricity
Quarter
Total electricity generation in the September 2007 quarter was 10,322 gigawatt hours; 487 gigawatt hours (4.5 percent) lower than in the September 2006 quarter, when the highest level of electricity generated for any quarter was reached. The September quarter generally has the highest level of electricity generation in the annual cycle. After adjusting for seasonal variations, the volume of electricity generated in the September 2007 quarter fell 3.0 percent compared with the previous quarter.
Thermal generation fell 43 gigawatt hours (0.9 percent) in the September 2007 quarter. Although the overall decrease in thermal generation was small, there were some significant movements within the different types of thermal generation, with a fall in coal generation of 900 gigawatt hours and increased gas generation of 852 gigawatt hours. In June 2007, a new 400MW gas turbine was commissioned at the Huntly plant which reduced it's reliance on coal-fired generation.
Hydro and wind generation decreased 443 gigawatt hours (7.1 percent) and supplied 56 percent of total electricity generation this quarter. Hydro lake levels were below average over the whole of the latest quarter, but were at similar levels to those of the September 2006 quarter.
In the September 2007 quarter, 65 percent of electricity for sale to consumers was generated from renewable resources, which include hydro, wind, geothermal, and biomass. This compares with 66 percent in the September 2006 quarter and 62 percent in the September 2005 quarter.
Annual
In the September 2007 year, total electricity generation was 39,611 gigawatt hours, a decrease of 309 gigawatt hours (0.8 percent) compared with the September 2006 year. Despite the small fall, electricity generated in the latest year still reached the second highest level for a September year following the highest-ever level reached last September.
Thermal generation fell 1,304 gigawatt hours (7.6 percent) with a decline in coal-fired generation more than accounting for the decrease, while gas generation increased. Hydro and wind generation rose 1,000 gigawatt hours (4.4 percent) and provided 60 percent of total electricity generation in the September 2007 year.
In the latest September year, 68 percent of electricity for sale to consumers was generated using renewable resources. This compares with 65 percent in September 2006, and 68 percent in September 2005.
Prices
In the September 2007 quarter, prices for commercial electricity users rose 2.4 percent compared with the June 2007 quarter but were 2.1 percent lower compared with the September 2006 quarter. Over the same periods, prices for household electricity consumers were up 0.8 percent compared with the previous quarter and were 6.2 percent higher compared with the same quarter last year.
Gas
Gas production in the September 2007 quarter increased 19.9 percent compared with the September 2006 quarter. At 50,171 terajoules, this is the largest amount of gas produced for any quarter since September 2003. With the Pohokura field starting operation in the later half of last year, gas production has increased every quarter so far this year.
Gas production for the September 2007 year was 169,701 terajoules, 5.7 percent higher than in the September 2006 year. This is the first September annual increase since 2001 when the highest-ever level of gas production for a September year (258,073 terajoules) was reached.
Prices
Commercial liquid petroleum gas (LPG) prices increased 3.0 percent this quarter, following a 13.0 percent decrease in the previous quarter. Comparing the September 2007 quarter with the September 2006 quarter shows that the price fell 1.3 percent – the first decrease between September quarters since 1998.
For commercial consumers, the price of natural gas decreased 0.9 percent compared with the June 2007 quarter and increased 11.6 percent compared with the September 2006 quarter. Natural gas prices for household consumers rose 1.5 percent from the June 2007 quarter to the September 2007 quarter and were 7.3 percent higher than in the September 2006 quarter.
Petroleum
Crude petroleum production
Crude petroleum production of 597 thousand tonnes in the September 2007 quarter is the largest amount produced in any quarter since records began in 1986. This quarter's production increased 232.2 percent compared with the lowest recorded September quarter production in 2006. Of the total crude petroleum produced in the latest quarter, 74 percent was exported.
The volume of crude petroleum produced in the year ended September 2007 was 1.3 million tonnes, an increase of 75.1 percent compared with the year ended September 2006. This is the largest amount of crude petroleum produced for a September year since 1999. Crude petroleum production has been increasing since the later half of 2006 when the Pohokura field began production and has increased significantly since the Tui field started production recently. As with the September quarter, 74 percent of the crude petroleum produced was exported in the September 2007 year; the remainder was available for use as feedstock in the production of refined petroleum products.
The provisional figure for imports of crude petroleum in the September 2007 year was 4.0 million tonnes, 2.5 percent less than in the September 2006 year. Over the same period, provisional figures for imports of partly-refined petroleum for further processing increased 20.4 percent to 525 thousand tonnes.
Refined petroleum production
Diesel production in the September 2007 quarter was up 12.9 percent on the September 2006 quarter – the first increase for a September quarter since 2001. At 458 thousand tonnes, this is the largest amount of diesel produced in any quarter since March 2003.
In the September 2007 quarter, there was a 10.0 percent decrease in the production of petrol compared with the previous September quarter. A decrease in the production of regular petrol more than accounted for the fall while premium petrol production recorded an increase.
The total volume of diesel produced in the year ended September 2007 was 1.6 million tonnes, 4.8 percent less than in the year ended September 2006. Over the same period, petrol production also decreased, down 5.9 percent. Again, a decrease in the production of regular petrol more than accounted for the fall, while premium petrol production increased.
Petroleum deliveries
In the September 2007 quarter, deliveries of petrol and diesel were both 592 thousand tonnes, an increase of 4.8 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively, on the September 2006 quarter. Increases in both premium and regular petrol deliveries contributed to the total increase in petrol deliveries, while diesel delivery volumes increased and reached a new high for a September quarter.
The total volume of petrol delivered in the September 2007 year was 2.4 million tonnes, 1.5 percent higher than in the previous September year. Increased deliveries of both premium and regular petrol contributed to the overall increase in petrol deliveries, up 2.1 percent and 1.3 percent respectively.
Diesel deliveries in the September 2007 year were 2.4 million tonnes, up 2.0 percent compared with the September 2006 year. Deliveries of diesel have recorded consecutive increases for September years since 1996.
Prices
In the September 2007 quarter, petrol prices for commercial and household consumers rose 0.9 and 1.8 percent, respectively, compared with the June 2007 quarter. Petrol price increases have been recorded in every quarter so far this year, following the decreases that were recorded in the last six months of 2006. Comparing the September 2007 quarter to the September 2006 quarter shows that petrol prices fell 1.7 percent for commercial consumers and fell 5.9 percent for household consumers.
The price of diesel (for commercial consumers) and alternative motor fuels (for household consumers) also rose, up 4.9 and 6.5 percent, respectively, in the September 2007 quarter compared with the previous quarter. Price decreases were recorded for diesel, down 10.5 percent, and alternative motor fuels, down 13.1 percent compared with the September 2006 quarter.
For technical information contact:
Denise Carlson or Alex Bayley
Christchurch 03 964 8700
Email: info@stats.govt.nz