Investor Guide: Energy FY2025 featuring Peter Strachan

Spelunk in the darkly lit cavern of the ASX energy index and you may have the impression the sector is a fading star.

Bellwethers Woodside Energy Group (ASX:WDS) and Santos (ASX:STO) are down 24% and 12% YTD as of mid-November, while the Global X Uranium ETF (ASX:ATOM) may be up this year, but the pace of the yellowcake revival sparked by private buyers like Sprott in 2021 has slowed considerably with spot prices moderating.

And for renewable stocks, the resumption of a Trump presidency has all sorts of question marks over the future of green energy.

But scratch a little deeper and the tailwinds for oil, gas, uranium and even renewable plays begin to reveal themselves. See Jess Cummins’ review of the expert opinions on energy investing under Trump 2.0 on page 8.

The Australian Energy Market Operator sees shortages of natural gas emerging in peak time on our East Coast next year with seasonal supply shortfalls from 2026.

Even in well-stocked WA, the supply picture is clouded with potential 10% shortfalls from 2031.

That places a premium, unrecognised by many investors, on the Aussie explorers looking for the next major gas discoveries in Queensland’s Taroom Trough, NT’s Beetaloo Sub-Basin and WA’s Perth Basin. See senior energy journalist Bevis Yeo’s incisive summary on page 4 of this guide for the full scoop.

Uranium prices may be down, too, but enthusiasm for the commodity’s long-term future hasn’t dulled. From next year, secondary uranium supplies are forecast to meet less than 3% of demand.

Mined production hasn’t measured up to utility demand since 1991, presenting a tantalising supply-demand shortfall for emerging miners.

After years in the wilderness, the shift to low emissions electricity generation has brought the nuclear sector back to life. See stockbroker and geologist Guy Le Page’s run-down on page 6 for your slice of yellowcake.

Plus, to help you drill a little deeper, capital markets veteran and resources analyst Peter Strachan sat down with CEOs and MDs from 16 emerging oil and gas, uranium and green energy plays that may have slipped under your radar.

Happy reading.

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