Energy & Resources

The resources market

Australia’s resources boom is showing no signs of easing with many major projects in the pipeline. But this increase in demand, increased prices and globalisation are fuelling mergers, acquisitions, rationalisation and restructuring, while the increased public and regulatory focus on environmental, native title and climate change issues presents both opportunities and threats for investors, operators, customers, suppliers and intermediaries.

The unique Australian regulatory environment and project features of the resources sector requires experienced and specialist commercial advice. Our dedicated team of specialist legal practitioners are equipped to guide our resources clients through this regulatory maze.

As of mid 2008, Corrs partners and lawyers are involved with leading industry trends such as:

• Overseas resource project development
• Overseas investment in the energy and resources sector and FIRB process
• Equity investments, mergers and acquisition in markets such as coal, iron ore and other ore types
• Coal Bed Methane project development work
• Impact of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 and the establishment of the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)
• Infrastructure constraints and consequent third party access considerations
• Geosequestration projects and regulatory requirements
• Desalinisation project development.

Corrs’ capability and depth

Corrs Energy and Resources Group has an interstate and cross practice group senior leadership team to meet and exceed the expectations of our growing client base and to engage in industry thought leadership.

The core areas of the Energy and Resources Group include mining; electricity (renewable and non renewable); oil and gas including LNG and LPG; waste/waste processing and water/waste water; and third party access regimes/access to essential facilities.

Mining

Corrs has been a key advisor to many of Australia’s most significant local and international mining operations and projects. We advise clients on the legal aspects of exploration, development, production, acquisitions, divestments, farm-ins and joint ventures. Our expertise covers coal (coking and thermal), iron ore, precious metals and uranium projects and as such we advise on the full range of mineral commodity types throughout Australia. We advise on matters from the initial investment and permitting process and project development applications, from construction through to long term product sales and offtake contracts. We also advise on transport, processing and financing and of mineral assets and projects.

Electricity

The Australian electricity place is changing rapidly, characterised by the development of a national electricity market and the privatisation of a number of major generation, distribution and retail operations. Corrs Energy and Resources Group has advised clients in many of the largest and most complex electricity transactions in Australia. We advise on purchase and supply agreements, energy trading and hedging instruments, operation and maintenance agreements, access agreements, transmission and supply operations, and the regulatory framework.

Oil and gas

Corrs advises clients on a wide range of oil and gas industry matters, including the sale and purchase of exploration and production assets, and the privatisation of gas assets. We also advise on emerging strategic opportunities, exploration, farm-ins, pipelines, marketing arrangements, gas distribution, and downstream retailing. We advise on the full range of upstream, midstream and downstream issues of Oil and Gas including LNG and LPG.

Emissions trading and regulation

Given the nature of our energy and resources practice we have advised on clean technologies and renewable projects from which emissions trading certificates arose. From this work we have acted on some of the largest bi-lateral trades in the world including ROCS (on UK projects on which we have worked), RECs, NGACs, GECs and green power (in Australia), and AAUs and ERUs. We are working with clients on the recently announced requirements of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007, MRET and the ETS.

Language and location are no barriers

Language is no barrier for within the Energy and Resources Group. We have a team of experienced lawyers (many of whom have practiced at leading law firms or corporations in overseas markets) that speak a range of languages, including:

• Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin)
• Bahasa Malaysia
• Indian

International project engagements are from both Australian clients investing overseas and overseas clients. Recent international activities have included China, South Korea, South Africa, England, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia and Indonesia.