Coal products is big business in Australasia, with Australia and Indonesia
producing 42% of the world's coal. Coal was the largest foreign
income earner for Australia. Australia is the world’s 4th largest producer
of coal, following China, USA and India. Indonesia is ranked as the 14th
largest global producer.
Australia maintains is arguably the third-largest coal producing country in the world, and in the financial year to June 2003 produced 338.7 Mt, comprising 274.1 Mt of saleable hard coal (351 Mt run-of-mine) and 64.6 Mt of lignite. Indonesia is the world’s third-largest exporter of thermal coal, after Australia and China. Coal production in Indonesia has experienced rapid growth in recent years with estimated production in 2003 of 109.3 Mt (2002: 103 Mt) and exports in 2003 are estimated to have been 88 Mt.
Rio Tinto's share of annual production at its Australian operations is 21
million tonnes, making it the largest steaming coal producer in Australia.
Through its subsidiaries (Pacific Coal and Rio Tinto Coal), it has several
operations in New South Wales and Queensland. Rio Tinto also owns 50% (the
remainder with BP Coal) of Kaltim Prima in Indonesia, a major coal producer.
Shell Coal Holdings was acquired by Anglo American Coal and is the operator and part owner of several coal operations in Australia and Venezuela.
BHP Billiton has substantial coal interests globally, with mines in New South Wales,
Queensland as well as operations in Indonesia and the USA.
Mount Isa Mines have two coal operations which they have a 75% interest.
Solid Energy NZ Ltd, the State owned mining company in New Zealand, was
responsible for 70% of New Zealand output at 3.3million tonnes in 1998. Coal is
generally produced for domestic and limited trade with Australia.
