Coal Industry

Australia is currently the world’s largest exporter of black coal, ranking first in steaming (= thermal) coal, which is mainly used for the production of electricity, and first in coking (= metallurgical) coal, which is converted to coke and mainly used in blast furnaces to produce iron and steel.

With extensive coal reserves concentrated along the nation’s eastern seaboard in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia has more than 76 billion tonnes of identified black coal reserves, which will last for over 200 years at current rates of production.

In New South Wales (NSW) there are seven defined coal fields: Hunter, Newcastle, Southern, Western, Gunnedah, Oaklands, and Gloucester. Recoverable coal reserves in this state are over 10 billion tonnes, with the Hunter Coal Field accounting for around 45 per cent of the reserves. In 2007 the coal reserves are contained within 60 operating mines and colliery holdings and more than 30 major development proposals.

In Queensland (QLD) most coal comes from the Bowen Basin of central Queensland close to the main ports and industrial centres of Brisbane, Gladstone, Mackay, and Rockhampton, together accounting for more than 90 per cent of the state's export coking and thermal coals. Other large resources of highly-volatile thermal coal are located in the south-east of the state in the Moreton, Tarong, Callide, and Surat Basin. The Surat Basin in particular, largely undeveloped at present, offers huge potential for export, domestic power generation and conversion to liquid hydrocarbons. In 2007 a total of 54 coal mines were fully operational in Queensland (39 open-cut and 15 underground), with 46 of these mines located in the Bowen Basin.