At today's Queensland Resources Expo (QREX) International Industry Conference in Rockhampton, which kicked-off a week of QREX activities in Central Queensland, Mr Ferguson told a gathering of industry representatives that liquefied natural gas (LNG) sourced from coal seam gas (CSG) and controversial uranium mining provided the keys to future lucrative energy exports for Australia.

"We are the world's largest exporter of coal; we are the second largest exporter of uranium and that industry will continue to grow and dare I suggest it will grow in due course here in the State of Queensland, just like it is growing in significance in places like Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory at the moment," Mr Ferguson said.

"It will only be a question of time.

"Interestingly we are the fifth largest exporter of LNG, and Australia has therefore now finally been recognised as an emerging energy superpower.

"This is a sobering reality because it brings both opportunity and responsibility to not only lead our own energy security which is the key to our economic future but also provides an opportunity for the Asia-Pacific to lift its rapidly growing energy needs.

"Australia has a central role to play in pulling our region out of recession.

"We also have to think about the fact there are 1.4 billion people in the world who do not have access to electricity.

"As the developing nations of the world like China and India modernise, the demand for Australia's resource and energy supplies will continue to grow."

Mr Ferguson said in a carbon-constrained economy, demand for Australian LNG and uranium will be most evident.

He said LNG production wouldn't be limited to north-west WA and Darwin, and believed Australia could be the first in the world to export LNG produced from coal seam methane gas in rural Queensland.

* See this week’s Queensland Country Life for more from the QREX International Industry Conference.