The need for oil and other energy sources is growing dramatically, with worldwide energy consumption projected to increase by 36 percent by 2035. The growing demand is fueled by a population that is predicted to increase by 25 percent in the next 20 years, with most of that growth in countries with emerging economies such as China and India. Rising energy demands from economic output and improved standards of living will likely put added pressure on energy supplies; in China alone, demand is expected to increase by 75 percent by 2035.

On the 30th of September 2011 Chevron, one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, sanctioned the $29 billion Wheatstone project in the Western Australian Pilbara region just days after the Australian federal government granted environmental approval. The Wheatstone project includes a two-train liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant with a foundation capacity of 8.9 million metric tonnes per year and a 190 million-standard-cubic-feet-per-day gas processing plant, based at the Ashburton North Gas Hub.

The Wheatstone onshore foundation project is a joint venture between the Australian subsidiaries of Chevron (operating 73.6%), Apache (13%), the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC 7%) and Shell(6.4%).

George Kirkland, vice chairman of the Chevron Corporation said, “Wheatstone will be a strong pillar of the Australian economy for decades. We have achieved this important milestone with the close support and cooperation of the Australian federal, state and local governments along with the local community, our partners and customers.”

Using energy more efficiently is of vital importance to secure the future of the planet, as well as helping developing countries’ economies take off.