Chevron and unions in talks to avert Australia LNG strike

Chevron and unions representing workers at two major liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Australia are holding last-ditch talks ahead of planned industrial action.

Workers are set to start a series of work stoppages from Thursday in the dispute over pay and conditions.

If their terms are not met, they plan to escalate to a total strike.

Concerns about the stoppages recently pushed up prices in natural gas markets.

The US energy giant's Gorgon and Wheatstone plants in Western Australia account for more than 5% of global LNG capacity.

Australia's industrial arbitrator, the Fair Work Commission, has been hosting mediation talks between Chevron and the Offshore Alliance - which is a partnership of two unions representing energy workers.

"Lower level strikes looks set to start tomorrow, which will add inefficiencies but are unlikely to materially impact global supply," energy analyst, Saul Kavonic told the BBC.

However, the threat of rolling full stoppages from 14 September could potentially have an impact on global energy markets.

"In the unlikely event the situation escalates to full stoppages, then around 6% of global supply would come offline, which could see prices spike if the strikes were to be prolonged into northern hemisphere winter," Mr Kavonic said.

Tim Harcourt from the Institute for Public Policy and Governance at the University of Technology Sydney said he does not expect a protracted strike.

"Generally, Australian disputes don't last very long because the Fair Work Commission is designed to intervene very early so we don't have the long disputes you get in the USA or the UK," he said.

"Having said that, because it's a significant industry with 500 workers, it could have some impact on global supply. But I don't think we're at that stage yet."

Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year sent oil and gas prices soaring, leading to a sharp rise in energy bills for homes and businesses.

Wholesale energy prices have now fallen from the highs but this week oil prices rose after Saudi Arabia and Russia extended their cuts to supplies to the end of the year.

On Tuesday, Brent crude closed above $90 a barrel for the first time since November.

Russia has also slashed supplies of natural gas to Europe, which led countries to seek out alternative sources of energy. Many countries are relying on LNG to fill the gap.

Australia is one of the world's largest exporters of LNG, along with Qatar and the US, and its supplies have helped to cool global energy prices.

LNG is methane, or methane mixed with ethane, cleansed of impurities and cooled to approximately -160C.

This turns the gas into a liquid and it can then be shipped in pressurised tankers.

At its destination, LNG is turned back into gas and used, like any other natural gas, for heating, cooking and power.