Published Thursday, 22 March, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Downs mine offers world’s best: Acting Premier
21 March 2007
ACLAND: Acting Premier Anna Bligh this morning officially opened Stage 2 of a Darling Downs coal mine which boasts some of the cleanest thermal coal in the world.
Ms Bligh was on hand to inspect and open the $60 million expansion of New Hope’s Acland mine.
“New Hope's thermal coal with its higher hydrogen, lower nitrogen and average sulphur levels produces the lowest greenhouse gases of any coal in world,” she said.
“This is ideal for domestic and international customers.”
New Hope was the winner of the 2006 Premier of Queensland Export Minerals and Energy Award winner.
Ms Bligh detailed just how important mining, especially coal mining, is to Queensland.
“We are on average opening seven new mines a year and there are presently 14 in pre-production mode.
“There are 50 major coal mines operating in Queensland and there are 100 major metalliferous (metal) mines as well.”
In the 2005/ 2006 financial year the State received $1.4billion in royalties from mining.
“That is money vital for our schools, hospitals and police,” she said.
Ms Bligh said the Acland mine expansion was another example of how the Downs and Surat Basin would benefit from the Southern Missing link – the proposed $1 billion rail development linking the Downs and Gladstone.
The Stage 2 expansion lifts the mine’s saleable production to 4Mta, of which 1Mtpa goes to Swanbank and Tarong Power Stations
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 32246900
ACLAND: Acting Premier Anna Bligh this morning officially opened Stage 2 of a Darling Downs coal mine which boasts some of the cleanest thermal coal in the world.
Ms Bligh was on hand to inspect and open the $60 million expansion of New Hope’s Acland mine.
“New Hope's thermal coal with its higher hydrogen, lower nitrogen and average sulphur levels produces the lowest greenhouse gases of any coal in world,” she said.
“This is ideal for domestic and international customers.”
New Hope was the winner of the 2006 Premier of Queensland Export Minerals and Energy Award winner.
Ms Bligh detailed just how important mining, especially coal mining, is to Queensland.
“We are on average opening seven new mines a year and there are presently 14 in pre-production mode.
“There are 50 major coal mines operating in Queensland and there are 100 major metalliferous (metal) mines as well.”
In the 2005/ 2006 financial year the State received $1.4billion in royalties from mining.
“That is money vital for our schools, hospitals and police,” she said.
Ms Bligh said the Acland mine expansion was another example of how the Downs and Surat Basin would benefit from the Southern Missing link – the proposed $1 billion rail development linking the Downs and Gladstone.
The Stage 2 expansion lifts the mine’s saleable production to 4Mta, of which 1Mtpa goes to Swanbank and Tarong Power Stations
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 32246900