Skip to main content
Unit of study_

LAWS6964: Global Energy and Resources Law

2023 unit information

This unit provides a framework for understanding the role of law in: the discovery, financing, development and utilisation of energy and resources projects; energy trading on wholesale markets; mining and resources projects, including competition issues and access to essential infrastructure; addressing potential sources of conflict in the energy and resources sector including in dealing with international trade, native title and other indigenous issues, environmental and corporate social responsibility issues; and current national and international energy and resources controversies. Previous topics have included the role of renewable energy in energy security, challenges posed by energy and resources projects in Africa, conflict between Europe and Russia over gas supplies, energy storage, coal seam gas development, international maritime disputes in Asia over offshore oil and gas fields, corruption and transparency, and the Resource Curse in developing countries.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Sydney Law School

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Law
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
? 
None
Corequisites:
? 
None
Prohibitions:
? 
None
Assumed knowledge:
? 
None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. explain the specific legal issues posed by fossil fuel, renewable energy and mineral resources and their associated technologies
  • LO2. understand the theoretical reasons for regulatory intervention or non-intervention in the energy and resources sectors
  • LO3. compare the approaches of different states to the exploitation of their energy and resources, and the different legal vehicles used to support and control the involvement of public and private capital involved in this task
  • LO4. identify the problems that may arise at each stage of the project development including Native Title, tenure and access issues, environmental approvals, modern slavery and human rights, construction disputes and develop pragmatic legal and commercial solutions
  • LO5. critically analyse the governance of the energy and resources sector both on the international and national scales and consider their ongoing relevance in the context of the energy transition
  • LO6. examine how legal regimes for renewable energy and emerging energy technologies may be evaluated in terms of political, commercial and legal risks, including the risk of international trade disputes.
  • LO7. critically apply the acquired legal knowledge and skills to novel problem scenarios affecting energy and resources projects
  • LO8. identify opportunities to reform the law to improve outcomes for consumers and industry, and create policy and law reform submissions to affect positive change to the energy and resources sectors

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

There are no availabilities for this year.
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Intensive May - June 2023
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Find your current year census dates

Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.

Important enrolment information

Departmental permission requirements

If you see the ‘Departmental Permission’ tag below a session, it means you need faculty or school approval to enrol. This may be because it’s an advanced unit, clinical placement, offshore unit, internship or there are limited places available.

You will be prompted to apply for departmental permission when you select this unit in Sydney Student.

Read our information on departmental permission.

Additional advice

To find out more about Our People, please visit https://www.sydney.edu.au/law/about/our-people/academic-staff.html and Our Visitors https://www.sydney.edu.au/law/about/our-visitors.html. The unit is also available for CPD registrations https://www.sydney.edu.au/law/study-law/continuing-professional-development.html.