Queensland’s mining industry is kicking goals with record-breaking coal exports for the past year.
The latest statistics from Queensland ports show coal exports for calendar 2018 totalled 223 million tonnes (mt), representing a 1 per cent increase on the 221 mt record from the year 2016.
Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal made the highest volume of exports at 69.5 million tonnes (mt), followed by the Port of Gladstone’s 67.9mt, Hay Point Coal Terminal’s 48.9mt and Abbot Point Coal Terminal’s 29.8mt. Port of Brisbane exported 7.1mt.
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) used the good news to take a swipe at environmentalists who had thought the commodity was being used less frequently worldwide.
“Green activists continue to claim the world is turning away from coal, but the data proves it’s an essential ingredient for the world economy to grow,” QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said in a public statement.
“Countries around the world are using our metallurgical coal to make steel needed for building modern cities and our high quality thermal coal is delivering tomorrow’s energy needs through high efficiency, low emission coal-fired power plants.”
Queensland coal is currently exported to 30 different countries or territories. These include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Gibraltar, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam and Wales.
“This record can only be achieved through the hard work and world-class standards set by the 215,000 Queenslanders who work in or with the coal industry,” Macfarlane said.
“According to the International Energy Agency Australia’s net exports of coal is forecast to increase by 20 percent by 2040 while the Office of the Chief Economist said Australia’s coal earnings are on target to generate more than $67 billion in 2018–19 making it Australia’s largest commodity export.”
Economic data from the QRC shows the coal industry contributed $43.4 billion to Queensland’s economy in 2017/18, and invested $13.1 billion with local businesses and community organisations.
Coal export high-score
- Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal: 69.5mt
- Port of Gladstone (RG Tanna and WICET): 67.9mt
- Hay Point Coal Terminal: 48.9mt
- Abbot Point Coal Terminal: 29.8mt
- Port of Brisbane (Queensland Bulk Handling): 7.1mt
Total: 223.2mt
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