What is oil shale?
Oil shale is sedimentary rock that contains an organic material called kerogen. This can be heated, converted into hydrocarbon vapours, condensed, processed and turned into liquid shale oil. It is then treated and refined into diesel, petrol and jet fuels, as well as gas products for generating electrical power.
As a liquid hydrocarbon energy source that's in abundant supply, oil shale can extend the world's oil resources. Surveys estimate there are up to three trillion barrels of proven oil shale resources worldwide. This is more than double the world's recoverable crude oil supply.
Oil shale mining and processing, either for electrical power or oil production, has a proven track record, with successful ventures in Australia, China, Brazil, Estonia and other countries.