SINGAPORETOKYO, Sept 15 Reuters Long before labour unrest at liquefied natural gas LNG plants threatened to disrupt supplies, Australia was on track to lose its crown as the world39;s top exporter due to green government policies, measures to protect domestic energy needs and expansion plans from Qatar and the United States.

Workers at two LNG platforms owned by Chevron, and that account for over 5 of global supply, plan to escalate the rolling strikes they began last week after failing to resolve disputes over pay and conditions.

While the industrial action has rattled European gas markets, buyers of the Australian super chilled fuel say they39;re more worried about a series of measures introduced by the government to meet domestic energy needs, manage soaring gas prices and reduce emissions.

There is a concern that the willingness to invest in Australia and confidence in the country may decline, said a spokesperson for Japan39;s Kyushu Electric Power, which has longterm contracts with Chevron39;s strikehit Wheatstone plant and Woodside Energy Group39;s North West Shelf facility off the coast of Western Australia.

Australia was the world39;s top LNG exporter last year, sending out 80.48 million metric tons according to Kpler data, but export volumes have fallen behind the United States and Qatar for the first eight months of 2023.

China and Japan are Australia39;s main buyers, followed by South Korea and Taiwan.

Japan39;s top energy producer Inpex, which is…