Mining and Minerals Projects Dominate Australia's New South Wales

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources Australia (Perth, Australia)--Project investments in Australia's most populated state, New South Wales, amount to $47.54 billion, with the Metals and Minerals Industry taking the lead. Industrial Info is tracking 311 projects in the state, which edges out South Australia and Victoria in value and project numbers.

Planned investments for the 126 metals and minerals projects in New South Wales amount to $18.39 billion. The Power Industry comes in second, with 102 projects worth $13.82 billion.

BHP Billiton Limited's (NYSE:BBL) (Melbourne, Australia) $2.23 billion grassroot Caroona Coal Mine and Processing Plant is the largest project in terms of investment value. BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) (Perth, Australia) continues planning for the project, which is not expected to begin construction for at least five years, reflecting the condition of the coal market.

The state's second- and third-largest projects also are being planned. Santos Limited's (ASX:STO) (Adelaide, Australia) $1.78 billion grassroot, mid-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) production plant in Newcastle is undergoing energy analysis, while Epuron Pty Limited's (North Sydney) grassroot, 1,000-MW Liverpool Range Windfarm is undergoing detailed design.

Construction has begun on more than 100 projects worth $6.07 billion, with another 31 projects worth $5.09 billion in the engineering phase, and more than 180 projects worth $36.38 billion in the planning stages.

Industrial Info is also tracking Industrial Manufacturing Industry projects worth $9.07 billion, and Oil and Gas Production Industry totaling $3.3 billion.

Last year, coal accounted for 35% of New South Wales' exports, with a value of AU$13 billion ($10.66 billion). Copper ores and concentrates made up 5.4% of the state's exports, with a value of AU$2 billion ($1.64 billion). Last year, 27.4% of New South Wales' exports, valued at AU$10.16 billion ($8.33 billion), went to Japan. China followed, with 17.4% of New South Wales' exports, worth AU$6.43 billion ($5.27 billion), and the Republic of Korea received 8.2% of the state's exports, worth AU$3.04 billion ($2.49 billion).

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.