Published Tuesday, 24 April, 2007 at 09:14 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
PREMIER COMMISSIONS PORT OF GLADSTONE’S NEW SHIP LOADER
Premier Peter Beattie was in Gladstone today to commission a new $200 million ship loader that will increase the RG Tanna Coal Terminal’s (RGCT) current coal export capacity by 10 million tonnes.
Mr Beattie said the milestone followed a 20 percent increase in capacity at Port of Gladstone in the last 12 months.
“In the last year, Port of Gladstone has increased its capacity more than any major coal port in Australia,” Mr Beattie said.
“Today marks another important milestone in its $770 million expansion.
“RGCT capacity will increase even further when additional infrastructure is completed in the next 12 months, taking its export capacity to more than 65 million tonnes annually.
“This is evidence of Queensland’s ongoing efforts to increase coal export capacity to facilitate global demand, and the Queensland Government is proud to have invested over $400 million in the Gladstone expansion so far.”
Mr Beattie said the Government continued to partner with industry to deliver new and expanded coal mines and critical road, rail and water infrastructure.
“For example, we have facilitated a consortium agreement to progress the $1 billion rail link from thermal coal reserves of the Surat Basin to Gladstone.
“These reserves are estimated at 4 billion tonnes.
“State-wide, Queensland has known reserves of at least 30 billion tonnes – sufficient to last for more than 200 years at current extraction rates.
Mr Beattie said in the year to June 30 2006, Queensland coal production reached almost 172 million tonnes – of which 143 million tonnes was exported.
“By 2009-10, production is forecast to rise to between 215 and 235 million tonnes, with export markets continuing to account for more than 80 per cent.
“And Queensland continues to plan for this growth, investing $2.3 billion with the private sector in expanding and upgrading Queensland port coal export capacity to 213 million tonnes per annum by the end of this year – that’s a 33 percent increase since 2005,” he said.
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
Media contact: 3224 4500
Mr Beattie said the milestone followed a 20 percent increase in capacity at Port of Gladstone in the last 12 months.
“In the last year, Port of Gladstone has increased its capacity more than any major coal port in Australia,” Mr Beattie said.
“Today marks another important milestone in its $770 million expansion.
“RGCT capacity will increase even further when additional infrastructure is completed in the next 12 months, taking its export capacity to more than 65 million tonnes annually.
“This is evidence of Queensland’s ongoing efforts to increase coal export capacity to facilitate global demand, and the Queensland Government is proud to have invested over $400 million in the Gladstone expansion so far.”
Mr Beattie said the Government continued to partner with industry to deliver new and expanded coal mines and critical road, rail and water infrastructure.
“For example, we have facilitated a consortium agreement to progress the $1 billion rail link from thermal coal reserves of the Surat Basin to Gladstone.
“These reserves are estimated at 4 billion tonnes.
“State-wide, Queensland has known reserves of at least 30 billion tonnes – sufficient to last for more than 200 years at current extraction rates.
Mr Beattie said in the year to June 30 2006, Queensland coal production reached almost 172 million tonnes – of which 143 million tonnes was exported.
“By 2009-10, production is forecast to rise to between 215 and 235 million tonnes, with export markets continuing to account for more than 80 per cent.
“And Queensland continues to plan for this growth, investing $2.3 billion with the private sector in expanding and upgrading Queensland port coal export capacity to 213 million tonnes per annum by the end of this year – that’s a 33 percent increase since 2005,” he said.
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
Media contact: 3224 4500