Previously known as the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA), the rename to Australian Energy Producers reflects the development of Australia’s oil and gas industry and its role in enabling the transformation of the nation’s energy system.

Australian Energy Producers (AEP) Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said: “The world is changing, the energy system is changing and our industry has already expanded its focus beyond oil and gas exploration and development to also cover low-carbon fuels and net zero technologies.

“Our members are leading energy producers, exploring and investing in oil and gas alongside the net zero building blocks of low-carbon hydrogen production and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies.

“And we power millions of homes and businesses, both here and overseas, while delivering substantial economic benefits to Australia, supporting 80,000 jobs and contributing $16 billion to governments to fund services and infrastructure last year,” said McCulloch.

Australian Energy Producers Chair Meg O’Neill — who is also Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Woodside Energy — said the APPEA Board approved the change to mark a new phase in the history of the organisation, established as the Australia Petroleum Explorers Association (APEA) in 1959.

“Our diverse membership today represents more than 170 companies that are central to Australia’s economic prosperity, our energy security and the transformation of our energy system,” said O’Neill.

“Our members will continue to build Australia’s energy and economic stories, overcoming technical and logistical challenges to find and produce essential energy, often in some of the most remote places on earth.”

Ms McCulloch said the industry had a proud history shaping Australia and the region’s energy system over the past 60 years.

“Our members are innovators who pushed the boundaries to establish our energy system and deliver substantial economic benefits to Australians. Our industry helped build Australia, unlocking new economic opportunities that have made Australia a world leading energy supplier.

“We understand our responsibility to contribute to the discussions, actions and success of the energy transformation and we have the workforce, expertise and infrastructure to help deliver secure, reliable and lower-emissions energy for Australia and our international partners,” said McCulloch

Key industry facts

• Gas provides 27% of Australia’s primary energy use.
• Gas supplies about 40% of the energy used in Australian manufacturing.
• 80,000 Australians directly and indirectly employed in upstream exploration and production.
• $16.2 billion revenue delivered to Australian state and federal governments in 2022-23.
• $92 billion LNG export revenue in 2022-23
• $45 billion spent with Australian businesses in 2022-23.