Coal future backed
Nations in carbon neutral push
THE Queensland Resources Council has denied talk of an end to the state’s lucrative thermal coal industry as it pushes the importance of mining for jobs.
The council has been active in the state election campaign calling on electors to vote for candidates who support the resources industry.
Meanwhile, announcements by Japan, South Korea and China in recent days suggest 75 per cent of the state’s current thermal coal export trade will be gone by 2050 under plans to become carbon neutral.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that, keeping in step with global commitments to tackle climate change, the country wanted to achieve net-zero emissions in the next 30 years.
“We will replace coal power with renewable energy, creating new markets and industries as well as jobs,” Mr
Moon said. It has led to calls for governments here to prepare communities for life after coal.
But Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane says talk of an end to coal mining is misplaced.
“Queensland coal mining won’t end in a generation. In fact there are plenty reasons to be optimistic about coal demand in Queensland for the long term,” Mr Macfarlane said. “Queensland has some of the highest quality coal in the world and is a low cost producer. Our position near a growing Asia will benefit us for decades to come.”
The Commodity Insights report on seaborne thermal coal for Asian demand to 2030, commissioned by the Minerals Council of Australia, says only Taiwan (-5 per cent) and South Korea (-15 per cent) will reduce volumes.
It says most countries are expected to increase imports, particularly Vietnam (235 per cent) and India (44 per cent), while Japan’s coal imports will increase 6 per cent.
On jobs, Mr Macfarlane said the resources sector supported 6513 jobs and contributed more than $1 billion to the Townsville economy in 2019-20.
This included 1639 direct full-time jobs and 4874 indirect full-time jobs across the electorates of Townsville, Thuringowa and Mundingburra.