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Coal in Australia

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Coal is mined in every state of Australia. It is used to generate electricity and is exported. 75% of the coal mined in Australia is exported, mostly to eastern Asia. In 2000/01, 258.5 million tonnes of coal was mined, and 193.6 million tonnes exported. Coal also provides about 85% of Australia's electricity production.[1]

Coal mining in Australia has become more controversial because of the strong link between burning coal, including exported coal, and climate change, global warming and sea level rise. Coal mining in Australia will as a result have direct impacts on Australian agriculture, health and the natural environment including the Great Barrier Reef.[2]

Fast facts

  1. Australia is the world's largest exporter of black coal, a position it has held since 1984
  2. Australia has more than 42 billion tonnes of economically recoverable reserves of black coal throughout Australia. The production for export markets is currently based on deposits in Queensland and New South Wales.
  1. Australia is the fourth largest coal producer in the world
  2. Australia produced 258.5 million tonnes of coal in 2000/01, of which nearly 230 million tonnes was saleable coal
  3. Coal is Australia's largest export commodity
  4. Australia exports 75% of its coal production, making the country the largest coal exporter in the world - a position Australia has held since 1986
  5. Exports of 193.6 million tonnes in 2000/01 were worth $10.8 billion or 10% of Australia's merchandise trade
  6. Coal provides about 85% of Australia's electricity generation requirements
  7. The coal industry employs 18,840 workers directly and many more indirectly
  8. Productivity has increased by 15% annually since 1996/97
  9. Many Australian coals have environmental benefits such as high energy content, low levels of sulphur, nitrogen and ash
  10. Australia has about 77 billion tonnes of coal resources
  11. The Asian market accounts for 80% of Australian coal exports with the top three markets being Japan (47%), Korea (12%) and Taiwan (9%)
  12. In the metallurgical coal market, Australia is competitive in exporting coal to the Asian region and Europe.
  13. In the thermal coal market, Australia is competitive in exporting coal to the Asian region, with its main competitors being China and Indonesia. Australia is less competitive in exporting coal to the European market due to shipping distances, and as such the main competition is from South Africa, Colombia, USA, and the Russian Federation.

[1]

Major mines

Major Australian Coal Mines)[2][3]
Mine State Location Ultimate Owner Lat & Long Type of Coal Tons Mined PA Tons Exported PA Major Buyers Major Method
Ulan NSW ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Open Cut
Leigh Creek SA ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Open Cut

Proposed mines

Major Australian Coal Mines[4]
Mine State Location Ultimate Owner Lat & Long Type of Coal Est Tons Mined PA Est Tons Exported PA Expected Major Buyers
Anvil Hill NSW ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Cap Coal QLD Middlemount Anglo Coal ? ? ? ? ?
Norwich Park QLD Dysart BMA ? ? ? ? ?
Sararji QLD Dysart BMA ? ? ? ? ?
Peak Downs QLD Moranbah BMA ? ? ? ? ?
Goonyella/Riverside QLD Moranbah ? ? ? ? ? ?
Moranbah North QLD Moranbah ? ? ? ? ? ?

Major export markets for Australian coal

Major Export Markets For Australian Coal[5]
Country Tons Coking Tons Steaming Tons Total Rank % of exports
Japan ? ? ? 1 47
Korea ? ? ? 2 12
Taiwan ? ? ? 3 9
China ? ? ? ?

Major overseas end users of Australian coal

Major End Users of Australian Coal[6]
Purchaser Country Tons Type of Coal Purpose
China ? ? ? ?
Japan ? ? ? ?

Major coal export ports

Major Australian Coal Export Ports[7]
Port State Mill Tons
2000/1 		Mill Tons
2001/2 		Australian #
2002 		World #
2002
Hay Point QLD 69.283 70,753 1 1
Newcastle NSW 67.283 69.299 2 ?
Gladstone QLD 35.436 37.502? ? ?
Abbot Point ? 10.562 11,878 ? ?
Port Kembla NSW 8.573 8.206 ? ?
Brisbane QLD 2.319 2.889 ? ?
Total na 193.456 200.527 na ?

Major coal mining companies

Major Australian Coal Mining Companies)[8]
Company Main Mines Tot Coal Mined
AMCI Holdings Australia Pty Ltd ? ?
Anglo Coal Australia Ltd ? ?
Bloomfield Collieries Pty Ltd ? ?
BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Ltd ? ?
Centennial Coal Company Ltd ? ?
Coalpac Pty Ltd ? ?
Cornwall Coal Company ? ?
Donaldson Coal Pty Ltd ? ?
Enhance Place Pty Ltd ? ?
Ensham Resources Pty Ltd ? ?
Felix Resources Limited ? ?
Foxleigh Joint Venture ? ?
Gloucester Coal Ltd ? ?
Hunter Valley Energy Coal ? ?
Idemitsu Australia Resources Pty Ltd ? ?
Illawarra Coal Holdings Pty Ltd ? ?
Jellinbah Resources Pty Ltd ? ?
Lithgow Coal Company Pty Ltd ? ?
Macarthur Coal Limited ? ?
Muswellbrook Coal Company Ltd ? ?
New Hope Corporation Ltd ? ?
Peabody Pacific Pty Ltd ? ?
Rio Tinto Coal Australia Pty Ltd ? ?
Wesfarmers Coal Ltd ? ?
Whitehaven Coal Mining Pty Ltd ? ?
Xstrata Coal Pty Ltd ? ?

Environmental impacts

The Australian community is understandably concerned about any mining activity that could place private or public property or valuable landscapes at risk. Extensive rehabilitation of areas mined helps to ensure that land capability, after coal mining, meets agreed and appropriate standards.[3]

Coal is the principle fossil fuel used in power generation not only in Australia but in many other countries. Links between coal mining, coal burning, and climate change are being discussed widely in Australia.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b "The Importance of Coal in the Modern World - Australia". Gladstone Centre for Clean Coal. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  2. ^ CSIRO's Climate Change Impacts on Australia and the Benefits of Early Action to Reduce Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions" [1]
  3. ^ Reducing the Environmental Impacts of Coal Mining
  4. ^ Australian coal mine blocked over climate impact
  5. ^ Climate concerns fuel coal mine opposition campaign

See also

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