Meeting with the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI)，Western Australia
10 October 2024
Introduction
On October 10, 2024, Mr. Lu Yongfeng, President of the Australia Chinese Energy and Resource Association (ACERA), along with Vice President Mr. Zhang Xipo and Secretary General Ms. Wan Wei, visited the Western Australia Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science, and Innovation (JTSI). They had a productive meeting with Ms. Diana Phang, Manager of Strategic Partnerships, and Senior Officials Ms. Simona Risteska and other representative.
Forum Achievements and Industry Impact
During the meeting, President Lu provided an overview of ACERA’s background and highlighted its work over the past decade in fostering collaboration and exchange in the energy sector between China and Australia. He made special mention of ACERA's partnership with the Australia China Natural Gas Technology Partnership Fund (GT Fund) and the successful hosting of two China-Australia LNG Forums, both of which received positive feedback from industry stakeholders.
Prospects for Future Collaboration
President Lu also shared that ACERA is working closely with the China Overseas Development Association (CODA), the Australia China Business Council (ACBC) WA, and the China Chamber of Commerce in Australia (CCCA) to organize the next edition of the LNG forum. He extended a sincere invitation to the Australian Secretariat Working Group of the Fund to actively participate in the event.
Ms. Simona Risteska expressed her appreciation for ACERA’s proactive outreach and contributions to the industry, voicing her desire to maintain ongoing collaboration. She also expressed interest in the progress of the upcoming LNG forum and confirmed her enthusiasm for attending future ACERA events.
Acknowledgments
The meeting concluded in a friendly atmosphere, with both parties taking a group photo. President Lu extended his special thanks to Ms. Tracey Lim for her introduction and coordination, acknowledging her support both during her tenure with the Australia China Natural Gas Technology Partnership Fund and beyond.
Background: The Australia China Gas Technology Cooperation Fund
After a three-year pause due to the pandemic, this week saw the arrival of a new group of Chinese trainees in Perth as part of the Australia China Gas Technology Cooperation Fund program.
In September 1998, the Chinese State Council approved the pilot introduction of LNG in Guangdong through the Guangdong Dapeng LNG Project, a collaboration between CNOOC, the Guangdong Province, and foreign investors. The first phase of the project has an annual capacity of 3.7 million tonnes, with LNG supplies sourced from Australia’s North West Shelf Gas Field. The supplier was the North West Shelf Liquefied Natural Gas Company (ALNG).
In November 2002, Zhang Guobao, former Vice Chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and Australian Energy Minister Macfarlane signed “the Declaration of Partnership on the Establishment of the Australia China Gas Technology Partnership Fund”. A year later, in October 2003, during President Hu Jintao’s visit to Australia, a “Memorandum of Understanding on the Management and Implementation of the Australia China Natural Gas Technology Partnership Fund” was signed by both governments. The Australian government provided financial support to help China develop its natural gas industry and deepen energy cooperation between the two nations.
Since then, the Australia China Natural Gas Technology Partnership Fund has facilitated technical exchanges and training programs, fostering mutual cooperation. The fund supports a variety of initiatives, including training, research, and exchange programs that span government regulation, production, and market development in China's natural gas industry. To date, nearly 30 batches of Chinese trainees have successfully completed the program in Australia.
