Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Exports of Australian coal from ports in the state of Queensland have surged to a new record.
According to the Gladstone Observer.
THE latest coal export data has shown Gladstone Port exported 5.8 million tonnes of coal in January – 400,000 tonnes more than in January 2015 and more than 1 million tonnes more than in January 2012.
The Abbot Point, Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay export terminals near Mackay exported a total of 12.6 million tonnes, up from 8.8 million tonnes in 2012.
Statewide about 19 million tonnes of coal were exported – most out of ports in regional Queensland.
Queensland Resources Council chief Michael Roche said although international prices were hurting mining companies there was strong international demand for Queensland’s coal.
“The coal ports of Abbot Point, Dalrymple Bay, Hay Point and Gladstone all had their strongest ever January,” he said.
“Contrary to what a lot of activists are saying, the demand for Queensland coal hasn’t gone away.
Read more: http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/record-coal-exports/2929368/
The international coal market is still suffering oversupply – the Gladstone Observer claims that around a third of Queensland coal mines are operating at a loss. But there must be at least a possibility, that surging demand will eventually translate into price rises and higher profits.
The following is a link to coal export statistics published by the Australian government, showing an ongoing rise in export tonnage across Australia.
http://www.industry.gov.au/resource/Mining/AustralianMineralCommodities/Pages/Coal.aspx
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Let me correct a widespread misunderstanding.
Yes, BHP and Rio mine and sell most of Australia’s coal for export.
Yes, this is a huge global operation involving heaps of money.
No, there are no BHP or Rio employees who are putting any significant money into their own pockets.
Yes, people in other industries especially IT, do pocket huge amounts of money derived from high prices to the public.
Yes, the vast majority of coal mining proceeds go back into the community, not into the pockets of a few BHP or Rio individuals.
So let’s stop this child level talk about coal miners ripping off the poor please.
Geoff
How can this be when the nations of the world are supposedly working together to combat climate change? Shouldn’t coal sales be dropping?