Coal in Australia

1
Coal in Australia
Australian Energy resources and major export
ports
Coal reserves in BTUs as of 2009
Coal in Australia is mined primarily in Queensland, New South
Wales and Victoria. It is used to generate electricity and 54% 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]
In fiscal year 2008/09, 487 million tonnes of coal was
mined, and 261 million tonnes exported.
[2]
Australia is the world's
leading coal exporter.
[3]
Coal mining in Australia has been the subject of criticism from
members of the environmental movement,
[4]

[5]
because burning coal
releases carbon dioxide, which is generally understood to contribute to
climate change, global warming, sea level rise and the effects of global
warming on Australia.
[6]

[7]
The burning of coal produces 42.1% of
Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, not counting export coal, based
on 2004 GHG inventory.
[8]
Both Greenpeace Australia Pacific (Energy [R]evolution
[9]
and
Beyond Zero Emissions (Zero Carbon Australia 2020
[10]
have
produced reports claiming a transition can be made to renewable
energy and Greenpeace has called for a just transition for coal based communities,
[11]
but others argue at present
there is no strong evidence of a viable alternative for the vast majority of Australia's electricity generation, or for the
significant economic and social benefits coal mining delivers to regional communities.
[1]

[12]
Coal Seam Gas,
methane-based gas associated with deposits of coal has historically been flared, however over the past 10 years has
been recovered and used to generate further electricity.
[13]

[14]

[15]
The proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme which followed the draft report of the Garnaut Climate Change
Review would put a price on carbon through a reducing cap and trade emissions trading scheme and this would be
likely to impact most heavily on brown coal usage within Australia (particularly in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria)
for power generation.
Forms of coal
Two forms of coal are mined in Australia, depending on the region: high-quality black coal and lower-quality brown
coal.
Black coal is found in Queensland and New South Wales, and is used for both domestic power generation and for
export overseas. It is generally mined underground before being transported by rail to power stations, or export
shipping terminals. Black coal was also once exported to other Australian states for power generation and industrial
boilers.
Brown coal is found in Victoria and South Australia, and is of lower quality due a higher ash and water content. As a
result Victoria adopted German power station and briquette technology in the 1920s to utilise the brown coal
reserves of the Latrobe Valley. Today there are three open cut brown coal mines in Victoria used for baseload power
generation.
Coal in Australia
2
Production and Reserves
Australia is the largest exporter of coal in the world, with most of that going to Japan. Total production of raw black
coal in Australia in financial year 2010-11 was 405 million tonnes (Mt.), down from 471 Mt. in 2009-10. This drop
was largely as a result of the Queensland floods of January 2011 where production in that State fell by some 30%
[16]
According to the Australian Energy
[17]
the reserves to production ratios for black and brown coal in Australia are
111 years and 539 years respectively, however these figures do not account for growth in production. Growth of
Black coal exports in Australia has been growing at a rate of 5% (on average of the last 20 years).
[18]
If this rate of
growth was maintained to extinction all black coal in the country would be depleted in around 25 years, with the
peak in production occurring in 2014.
Major mines
The following table lists the major Australian Coal mines.
[19]

[20]
Mine State Location Ultimate
Owner
Lat & Long Type of Coal Million
Tons
Mined
PA
Million
Tons
Exported
PA
Major
Buyers
Major Method
Anglesea VIC Anglesea Alcoa of
Australia
382342S
1440958E
Lignite ? nil Anglesea
Power
Station
Open Cut
Beltana NSW Singleton Xstrata 323922S
1510716E
Thermal 7.6 ? ? Underground
Bengalla NSW Muswellbrook Coal and
Allied
321924S
1505129E
Thermal ? ? ? Open Cut
Callide QLD Callide
(Biloela)
Anglo
American
[21]
241938S
1503704E
Thermal ? ? ? Open Cut
Capcoal QLD Middlemount Anglo
American
225750S
1483300E
Hard Coking
Coal & PCI
7 ? ? Open Cut &
Underground
Dawson QLD Dawson
(Moura)
Anglo Coal 241746S
1510647E
Soft Coking &
Thermal
7 ? ? Open Cut
Drayton NSW Hunter Valley Anglo Coal 322046S
1505440E
Soft Coking &
Thermal
7 ? ? Open Cut
Broadmeadows QLD Moranbah BMA 214435S
1475815E
Hard Coking
Coal
4 ? ? Underground
Blackwater QLD Duringa BMA 234236S
1473300E
Thermal/Coking 13 ? ? Open Cut
Blair Athol [22]
QLD Clermont Rio Tinto 224128S
1473159E
Thermal 12 ? ? Open Cut
Burton QLD Nebo Peabody
Energy
Australia
213412S
1481059E
Thermal/Coking 4 ? ? Open Cut
Callide QLD Biloela Anglo
American
241901S
1503723E
? 4 ? ? Open Cut
Collinsville QLD Collinsville Xtrata 202931S
1474702E
Thermal/Coking 5 ? ? Open Cut
Coal in Australia
3
Coppabella QLD Coppabella Macarthur
Coal
215056S
1482559E
? 7 ? ? Open Cut
Curragh QLD Blackwater Wesfarmers 232830S
1485143E
Thermal/Coking 7 ? ? Open Cut
Goonyella/Riverside QLD Moranbah BMA 214348S
1475844E
Hard Coking
Coal
11 ? ? Open
Cut/Underground
Griffin Coal WA Collie Ric Stowe 332132S
1160911E
Bitumous 5 nil Bluewaters
Power,
Synergy
Power
Open Cut
Hail Creek Qld Nebo Rio Tinto
Coal
Australia
(RTCA)
212906S
1482205E
Hard Coking
Coal
4.5 all ? Open Cut
Leigh Creek SA Leigh Creek NRG
Flinders
303011S
1382526E
Lignite ? ? Port
Augusta
Power
Stations
Open Cut
Loy Lang VIC Traralgon Loy Yang
Power
381507S
1463426E
Lignite ? nil Loy Yang
Power
Station
Open Cut
Moorvale QLD Moranbah Macarthur
Coal
215924S
1482114E
Thermal/PCI ? ? ? Open Cut
Mount Arthur Coal
(MAC)
NSW Muswellbrook BHP Billiton 322001S
1515236E
Thermal 15 12 ? Open Cut
Mount Thorley
Warkworth (MTW)
NSW Singleton Coal &
Allied
323730S
1510524E
Thermal/Coking ? ? ? Open Cut
Moranbah North QLD Moranbah Anglo
American
215226S
1475750E
Hard Coking
Coal
4.5 ? ? Underground
Morwell VIC Morwell International
Power
381622S
1462330E
Lignite 20 nil Hazelwood
Power
Station,
Energy
Brix
Open Cut
Norwich Park QLD Dysart BMA 224648S
1482848E
Soft Coking
Coal
6 all ? Open Cut
Newlands QLD Glenden Xstrata 211243S
1475324E
Thermal/Coking 12 ? ? Open Cut &
Underground
Peak Downs QLD Moranbah BMA 221413S
1480043E
Hard Coking
Coal
13 all ? Open Cut
Saraji QLD Dysart BMA 222143S
1481724E
Hard Coking
Coal
7.5 all ? Open Cut
Ulan NSW Ulan via
Mudgee
Xstrata 321438S
1494456E
Thermal 5 ? ? Open Cut &
Underground
Wesfarmers Premier
Coal
WA Collie Wesfarmers 332440S
1161420E
Bitumous 3.5 nil Synergy
Power
Open Cut
Yallourn VIC Yallourn TRUenergy 381042S
1462021E
Lignite ? nil Yallourn
Power
Station
Open Cut
Coal in Australia
4
Bulga Coal NSW Singleton Oakbridge
Group
(Managed
by Xstrata
Coal)
3239S
15104E
Thermal/Coking 10.8 All Japan,
Nippon
Steal,
Nippon Oil
Open Cut
Major export markets for Australian coal
Major Export Markets For Australian Coal (20082009)
[23]
Country/Area Million Tons Coking Million Tons Steaming Million Tons Total Rank % of exports
Japan 43.3 61.5 104.8 1 39.8
Korea (ROK) 15.1 27.9 43.1 2 16.3
Taiwan 6.1 20.0 26.1 3 9.9
China 15.5 9.5 25.0 4 9.5
India 23.8 0.9 24.7 5 9.4
Europe 18.6 2.3 20.9 6 7.9
Major coal export ports
Major Australian Coal Export Ports
Port State Million
Tons
2009
Million
Tons
2008
Newcastle
[24]
NSW 92.8 91.4
Hay Point
[25]
QLD 82.4 80.4
Gladstone
[25]
QLD 56.2 54.1
Abbot Point
[25]
QLD 14.4 12.5
Port Kembla
[26]
NSW 13.7 13.3
Brisbane
[25]
QLD 6.3 5.5
Major coal mining companies
Coal in Australia
5
Major Australian Coal Mining Companies)
[27]
Company Main Mines Total Coal
Mined
(Million
Tons)
Anglo American
Metallurgical Coal
Ltd
a. Anglo Coal Callide Mine, Queensland b. Anglo Coal Capcoal Mine Via Middlemount Middlemount QLD
c. Anglo Coal Dartbrook Mine PO Box 517 Muswellbrook NSW 2333 d. Anglo Coal Drayton Mine PMB 9
Muswellbrook NSW e. Anglo Coal Foxleigh Mine PO Box 21 Middlemount QLD f. Anglo Coal Grasstree
Mine Via Middlemount Private Mail Bag Middlemount QLD g. Anglo Coal Moranbah North Mine PO Box
172 Moranbah QLD h Dawson mine, one of Queenslands leading export coal operations, is owned by the
Moura Joint Venture, comprising Anglo Coal Australia Pty Ltd (51 %) and Mitsui Coal Holdings Pty Ltd (49
%)
32.0
Bloomfield
Collieries Pty Ltd
Bloomfield at East Maitland and Rixs Creek at Singleton 0.88
BHP Billiton -
Hunter Valley
Energy Coal
Mount Arthur Coal, Muswellbrook, Hunter Valley NSW
[28]
15.0
(FY2009
est.)
BHP Billiton
Mitsubishi Alliance
(BMA) Coal
Operations Pty Ltd
a. Blackwater b.Broadmeadow Mine c. Goonyella Riverside d. Gregory Crinum e. Peak Downs Mine f. Saraji
Mine g. South Walker Creek Mine h. Poitrel Mine is situated south-east of the town of Moranbah i. Hay Point
Coal Terminal, located 38km south of Mackay
58.0
Centennial Coal
Company Ltd
Newstan, Awaba, Myuna, Mandalong, Mannering, Angus Place, Springvale, Charbon, Berrima, Clarence,
Cooranbong (Closed), Munmorah (Closed)
?
Coalpac Pty Ltd Cullen Valley Mine located in the Western Coalfield of New South Wales, Australia 1.2
Cornwall Coal
Company
NE Tasmania 0.725
Donaldson Coal Pty
Ltd
Hunter Valley 2.5
Enhance Place Pty
Ltd
Colliery near Lithgow, NSW 0.2
Ensham Resources
Pty Ltd
Pits A,B,C & D either side of the Nogoa River - referred to as the Ensham Project - and the Yongala pit,
which is located approximately 5km to the north of the main Ensham operation
9.0
Felix Resources
Limited
a. Singleton in the Hunter Valley b. Central Queenslands Bowen Basin c. Emerald in Queenslands Bowen
Basin d. The Moolarben coal project is a world class coal asset located 40km east of Mudgee in the Upper
Hunter Valley e.Harrybrandt exploration project, near Nebo in Queenslands Bowen Basin
3.9
Foxleigh Joint
Venture
Central Queensland ?
Gloucester Coal Ltd Stratford and Duralie, both located in the Gloucester Geological Basin 1.9
Idemitsu Australia
Resources Pty Ltd
western Bowen Basin 8.0
BHPBilliton
Illawarra Coal
Appin, Westcliff & Dendrobium Collieries in the Illawarra and Wollondilly regions south of Sydney, New
South Wales
8
Jellinbah Resources
Pty Ltd
Jellinbah East Mine in the Bowen Basin of central Queensland 4.0
Lithgow Coal
Company Pty Ltd
Cullen Valley Mine located in the Western Coalfield of New South Wales 1.0
Macarthur Coal
Limited
Queenslands Bowen Basin 5.5
Coal in Australia
6
Muswellbrook Coal
Company Ltd
a. Drayton Mine is an open-cut coal mine operated by Anglo Coal (Drayton Management) Pty Ltd. It is
located approximately 13 kilometres south east of Muswellbrook
?
New Hope
Corporation Ltd
Acland on the Darling Downs and at Rosewood near Ipswich 3.92
Peabody Pacific Pty
Ltd
a.Burton mine is located in the Bowen Basin b. North Goonyella underground and Eaglefield open-cut mines
are located at the northern end of the Bowen Basin c. Millennium mine is located near the town of Moranbah
in the Bowen Basin d. Wilkie Creek mine is located in the Surat Basin of south-east Queensland e.
Wilpinjong mine is located 10 kilometres south-east of Ulan mine and 40 kilometres north-east of Mudgee
f.Wambo is one of Peabody's largest operating mines and is located in the Hunter Valley g. Chain Valley is
located in the Newcastle coalfield on the southern shore of Lake Macquarie h. Metropolitan is located in the
Southern coalfields, about 50 kilometres south of Sydney.
22.0
Rio Tinto Coal
Australia Pty Ltd
Blair Athol, Hail Creek and Kestrel Mines and is currently constructing the Clermont Mine Project, all in
Queensland and in New South Wales, Rio Tinto Coal Australia manages Coal & Allied's operations at Mount
Thorley Warkworth, Hunter Valley Operations and Bengalla
5.8
Vale (a) Integra Coal, Hunter Valley, open cast and underground mines, 61.2% owned by Vale. (b) Carborough
Downs Mine, Central Queensland, underground longwall mine owned 80% by Vale. (c) Isaac Plains Joint
Venture, Central Queensland, open cast mine owned 50% by Vale.
8.0
Wesfarmers Coal Ltd a. Curragh mine in Queenslands Bowen Basin b. Premier Coal mine at Collie in Western Australias south
west c. Bengalla mine in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales
2.157
Whitehaven Coal
Mining Pty Ltd
Gunnedah Region of New South Wales 1.0
Xstrata Coal Pty Ltd a. Westside, New South Wales, Australia b. West Wallsend, New South Wales Australia c. Bulga, New South
Wales d. Beltana, New South Wales e. Narama, New South Wales f.Mangoola, Hunter Valley, New South
Wales g.Mount Owen - The Mount Owen Complex consists of the Mount Owen, Ravensworth East and
Glendell open cut coal mines h.Ravensworth, New South Wales i.Ulan Coal m. Baal Bone, New South Wales
j. Cumnock, New South Wales k. Narama, New South Wales
29.3
Environmental impacts
The Australian community is understandably concerned about any mining activity that could place private or public
property or valuable landscapes at risk. The coal industry claims however that extensive rehabilitation of areas mined
helps to ensure that land capability, after coal mining, meets agreed and appropriate standards.
[29]
Coal is the principal 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.
[30]

[31]
On 27 November 2006 the NSW Land & Environment Court judge Justice Nicola Pain made the historic decision to
set aside the Director-General's acceptance of the Environmental Assessment for the Anvil Hill coal mine, on the
grounds that it did not include a comprehensive greenhouse gas assessment, even though the proposed mining of
coal was for export. However, on 7 June 2007 the planning minister for NSW Frank Sartor reversed this decision and
approved the mine, attaching a list of 80 conditions to the mines operation including conservation offsets.
[32]
Clean coal technologies
The Federal Government has, as part of its pledge to mitigate global warming,
[33]
committed A$100 million to
commission a climate change-fighting "clean coal" and carbon sequestration research institute to make Australia a
leader in this emerging technology. Carbon sequestration technology is not expected to be commercially viable for at
least 5 to 10 years, but the Federal Labor government argues that it is a vital technology given Australia's reliance on
coal-fired electricity.
[34]
Coal in Australia
7
References
[1] "The Importance of Coal in the Modern World - Australia" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20070208111031/ http:/ / gc3. cqu. edu. au/
modern-world/ index. php#australia). Gladstone Centre for Clean Coal. Archived from the original (http:/ / www. gc3. cqu. edu. au/
modern-world/ index. php#australia) on 2007-02-08. . Retrieved 2007-03-17.
[2] "Australia Mineral Statistics 2009- June Quarter" (http:/ / www. abareconomics. com/ publications_html/ ams/ ams_09/ ams_sept09. pdf).
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics. . Retrieved 2009-10-03.
[3] International Energy Agency. (2008-08-31) Coal Information 2008. Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development. ISBN
92-64-04241-5
[4] NSW Greens coal policy: http:/ / nsw.greens. org. au/ policies/ coal
[5] Greens Queensland. 2010. Upper Hunter Valley coal mining shows dangers for Queensland. Tuesday 13 April. Media Release: http:/ / qld.
greens. org.au/ media-releases/ upper-hunter-valley-coal-mining-shows-dangers-for-queensland
[6] CSIRO's Climate Change Impacts on Australia and the Benefits of Early Action to Reduce Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions"
[7] http:/ / www. csiro. au/ files/ files/ p6fy.pdf
[8] (http:/ / www.aussmc.org. au/ ScienceBlog3May07. php)
[9] http:/ / www. greenpeace.org/ australia/ resources/ reports/ climate-change/ energy-revolution-scenario-full
[10] http:/ / beyondzeroemissions.org/ zero-carbon-australia-2020
[11] http:/ / www.greenpeace.org/ australia/ resources/ reports/ climate-change/ just-transition-report
[12] NSW Department of Planning. 2008. Impacts of underground coal mining on natural features in the Southern Coalfield: strategic review.
State of New South Wales: http:/ / www. planning.nsw.gov. au/ planningsystem/ pdf/ report_southern_coalfields_final_jul08. pdf
[13] GE's ecomagination Certified Jenbacher Power Plant Commissioned at Australian Coal Mine to Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(http:/ / www. gepower. com/ about/ press/ en/ 2008_press/ 120208e. htm), www.gepower.com, Accessed 14.04.2011
[14] Queensland Government Inaugurates Alternative Energy Plant Powered by GE's Jenbacher Waste Coal Mine Gas Engines (http:/ / www.
v1energy. com/ news/ top-stories/
660-queensland-government-inaugurates-alternative-energy-plant-powered-by-ges-jenbacher-waste-coal-mine-gas-engines),
www.v1energy.com, Accessed 11.05.2011
[15] Clarke Generates Interest at Blackwater (http:/ / gastoday. com. au/ news/ clarke_generates_interest_at_blackwater/ 012577/ ), Clarke
Energy article in www.gastoday.com.au, Accessed 11.05.2011
[16] http:/ / www.australiancoal. com.au/ the-australian-coal-industry_coal-production. aspx/
[17] http:/ / www.ret. gov.au/ energy/ Documents/ facts-stats-pubs/ Energy-in-Australia-2011. pdf/
[18] http:/ / climatechange. flinders. edu. au/ various%20attachments/ Bartlett%20-%20NRR%5B1%5D. pdf/
[19] http:/ / www.australiancoal. com.au/
[20] http:/ / www.worldenergy.org/ wec-geis/ publications/ reports/ ser/ coal/ coal. asp
[21] http:/ / www.anglocoal.com.au/ wps/ wcm/ connect/ AngloCoal
[22] http:/ / www.riotintocoalaustralia.com. au/ 321_blair_athol_mine. asp
[23] http:/ / www.australiancoal. com.au/ the-australian-coal-industry_coal-exports_coal-export-details. aspx
[24] http:/ / www.pwcs.com. au/ display/ assets/ download.php?id=384
[25] http:/ / www.transport. qld. gov.au/ resources/ file/ eb3e0c4a36b1d25/ Pdf_port_of_abbot_point_cape_flattery. pdf
[26] http:/ / www.portkembla. com. au/ page/ port-operations/ trade---cargo/
[27] http:/ / www.australiancoal. com.au/ members.htm
[28] http:/ / www.bhpbilliton.com/ bb/ ourBusinesses/ energyCoal/ mtArthurCoal. jsp
[29] Reducing the Environmental Impacts of Coal Mining (http:/ / www. australiancoal. com. au/ environmentlocal. htm)
[30] Australian coal mine blocked over climate impact (http:/ / www. newscientist. com/ article/
dn10709-australian-coal-mine-blocked-over-climate-impact. html)
[31] Climate concerns fuel coal mine opposition campaign (http:/ / www. abc. net. au/ 7. 30/ content/ 2006/ s1780094. htm)
[32] NSW Govt approves Anvil Hill coal mine (http:/ / www. abc. net. au/ news/ newsitems/ 200706/ s1945236. htm)
[33] http:/ / www.ret. gov.au/ energy/ energy%20programs/ cei/ ccsfp/ Pages/ default. aspx
[34] "Kevin Rudd's $100m clean coal plan" (http:/ / www.theaustralian. news. com. au/ story/ 0,25197,24368848-2702,00. html). The
Australian. 19 September 2008. .
Coal in Australia
8
External links
"Sonoma Coal" (http:/ / www. qcoal. com. au/ ) - Sonoma Coal Project
"Illawarra Coal" (http:/ / www. illawarracoal. com/ ) - An unofficial history of coal mining in the Illawarra
worldenergy.org (http:/ / www. worldenergy. org/ wec-geis/ publications/ reports/ ser/ coal/ coal. asp)
"Collinsville Coalface Experience" (http:/ / www. coalfaceexperience. com. au)
Can geosequestration save the coal industry? (http:/ / www. ceem. unsw. edu. au/ content/ documents/
Diesendorf_Coal-Geoseq. pdf)
Article Sources and Contributors
9
Article Sources and Contributors
Coal in Australia Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=469598541 Contributors: 2burn, 2help, Alan Liefting, Alansohn, Amberclaire 2041, Ancient Walker, Ascidian, Auntof6,
Biggestfoot, Bleakcomb, Bobrayner, BrainMarble, Breno, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Causa sui, Charbono, Chris the speller, Computeruser123, Crusoe8181, Debresser, Denisarona, Dl2000,
Epbr123, FNQ, Gralo, Greenmermaid, Iaindgray, Ireas, IrisKawling, Iscariot Ex Machina, Jhonnery, Johndwood, Johnfos, Jrdsmith, KaHe, Kelapstick, LilHelpa, Literacola, Loaky87, Lyndj,
MER-C, Malinnea, Manuel Bermudez, MattM13, Melbee7ca, Mervyn, Mervyn Emrys, Millere08, MoondyneAWB, Naught101, Neelix, Nurg, PRENDEC, Peace01234, Peterlewis, Phanly,
PhilKnight, Plazak, RP Bravo, Rjwilmsi, Sam Hoare, Sansumaria, Scarian, ScottDavis, Scuttlebug, Shane204, Shortride, Smalltime0, Social tamarisk, Some jerk on the Internet, Srippon,
Stepheng3, Stevenoosa, Stout256, Tabletop, Takamaxa, Theanphibian, Versus22, Welsh, Wolfgang Kufner, Wongm, Woood, 161 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
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