Study of the Australian black coal industry. Queensland and New South Wales

摘要

Australia is the 6th largest producer of coal in the world and the world's largest exporter of thermal and metallurgical coal, accounting for 36% of world coal trade. This report overviews the industry and recommends a long term strategic plan to market coal exports, improve industrial relations, adopt best practice operation and commercial pricing of transport, address greenhouse issues associated with coal use, and other strategies for diversification into Asian markets. Overall the annual growth possibilities in export of thermal coal is 7% for the rest of the decade and beyond that additional possibilities for the export market. The greenhouse issue is the greatest strategic threat to the industry and there needs to be a stronger focus on research and development on clean coal utilization.