Coal is Australia's major mineral export and accounts for nearly 25% of Australia's export earnings. Australia is the world's 4th largest coal producer, and, according to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, produced 393.92 million tonnes of coal in 2007. Australia is also the world’s largest net exporter of coking and steaming coal. According to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, Australia had end 2007 coal reserves of 76600 million tonnes, 9.03% of the world total and consumed 53.13 million tonnes oil equivalent. Australia exported 340.79 million tonnes of coal in 2007. Japan is the destination for over 60 per cent of Australia’s coal export.
98% of Australia’s export production coal deposits are located in Permian age sediments (250 million years old) in the Bowen Basin in Queensland and the Hunter Valley basins in New South Wales. Western Australia has some producing mines south of Perth. Australia also has reserves of lower grade lignite coal, located in Victoria. Coal is exported from nine terminals at seven ports along the east coast. Australia’s coal industry is dominated by BHP Billiton, Anglo American (UK), Rio Tinto (Australia-UK), and Xstrata (Switzerland).
BHP Billiton is the world’s largest supplier of seaborne traded hard coking coal from its predominantly open-cut mines at its low cost asset base in Queensland (owned in alliance with Mitsubishi Corporation) and New South Wales (100 per cent owned).
BHP’s Mt Arthur coal, located in the Upper Hunter region of New South Wales, produces up to 20 million tonnes of raw energy coal per annum at full production. In order to meet increasing demand, Mt Arthur Coal is currently investigating the potential for underground mining in an area formerly known as Bayswater No 3 and the exploration area to the west..
In April 2006, BHP Billiton was awarded the coal exploration licence for the Caroona area in New South Wales.
Xstrata, the world’s largest exporter of thermal coal, exports around 80% of its Australian thermal coal production to major power companies in the Pacific region including Japan, Korea and Taiwan and Mexico.
Rio Tinto coal properties produce low sulphur steam coal for electricity generating stations, metallurgical coking coal for iron and steel mills, and coal for international trade from 9 properties mainly located in Queensland and New South Wales.
Anglo Coal Australia is one of Australia’s leading coal producers with extensive coal mining interests and prospects. Anglo Coal Australia operates five mines in Queensland and one in New South Wales.
Anglo American plc
Anglo Coal
Following the acquisition of Shell Coal Australia, Anglo Coal has interests in the following operations in Australia: Moranbah North, German Creek, Callide, Drayton and Dartbrook.
Austral Coal Ltd
Austral operate the Tahmoor Colliery situated in NSW.
BHP Billiton Limited
BHP Billiton operates nine open-cut mines and one underground mine in the Bowen Basin, Queensland, and six underground mines in New South Wales. Through wholly owned subsidiary Ingwe, BHP Billiton also owns Coal Mines of Australia (CMAL) that operates four mines, including exploration interest via Coal Operations of Australia Ltd. (COAL).
BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance
Billiton Coal Australia Pty Limited
COAL operates three underground and one opencast operation in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley coalfields in Australia.
MIM Holdings Ltd
At the Mooiberge Farmstall the visitor be greeted by the friendliest scarecrows this side of anywhere.
Inside they will find a large selection of dried fruits and nuts, fruits and cold drinks, Icecreams and sweets.
MIM Holdings Ltd
MIM has a 75% interest in the NCA Project (comprising the Newlands and Collinsville mines) as well as the Oaky Creek coal mine in Queensland.
New Hope Corperation Ltd
RAG Coal International AG
Rio Tinto Plc
Desaku Homestay is located in a kampung/village environment. We offer affordable accommodation for budget conscious travelers. It is located near the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport. All rooms are en-suite.
Rio Tinto Plc
Through Australian subsidiaries Pacific Coal and Coal and Allied Industries, Rio Tinto operates several operations in Queensland and New South Wales.
