Published Wednesday, 09 July, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Premier predicts coal boom to continue
Gladstone: Queensland’s coal exports could almost double by 2030, Premier Anna Bligh said today while officially opening the $780 million expansion to Gladstone’s R G Tanna Terminal.
“Growth has been impressive - rising from 200,000 tonnes in 1960 to now where export capacity is about 200 million tonnes a year,” said Ms Bligh.
“This milestone expected to be hit in the next 18 months and there are forecasts it will hit 370 million tonnes in 20 years,” she said.
In praising the Gladstone Ports Corporation for its efforts she told coal companies, as well as buyers and traders from Japan, India and Korea, that the State Government was working with industry searching for clean coal solutions.
“The State and the coal companies, through our Clean Coal Council, are putting our money where our mouth is to ensure a green solution is found. It will be,” she said.
“This must happen to sustain the industry and its jobs, to protect the environment and to shore up the State’s long-term.”
Today’s official opening marks the Tanna Terminal’ s Expansion of 30million tonnes per annum from 40 to 70mtpa.
The expansion includes; the third rail receival station, third shiploader, fourth berth, fifth new stockpile and the speeding up of the out-loading belts from 4000tonnes per hour to 6000tph.
The Premier said that the future for the State’s coal exports looked bright.
“There is a $15 billion Coal Infrastructure Plan to cope with increased demand. There are 28 advanced coal projects in CQ alone with 17 new mines and 11 expansions under active consideration.
“Presently there are 40 operating mines throughout State.
“In the next five years the potential capital investment in CQ coal projects is of the order of $11.5 billion with a further $9 billion on coal transport infrastructure,” she said.
Ms Bligh said Gladstone Ports Corporation would continue to play a lead role.
"This is assured given expansions of GPC’s Wiggins Island - $4 billion terminal could be shipping 25 M/tpa year by 2012 and then ultimately 84 M/t a year.
“Also investigations have started into GPC’s Pt Alma, near Rocky, possibly exporting coal up to 30M/t a year.
“These dovetailed with the Surat Basin coming on line via the Southern Missing Link means a very exciting future indeed,” she said.
Ms Bligh also congratulated the Corporation for its efforts with the Expansion’s Indigenous youth employment program.
.
“It resulted in 13 out of 15 young indigenous people gaining permanent employment including 9 apprenticeships.
“So successful has it been Rio Tinto’s now implementing the same program developed by GPC on its expansion project targeting 45 indigenous youth,” she said.
Earlier in the day Ms Bligh joined with GPC and Queensland Rail executives to name coal train receival stations at the R. G. Tanna Terminal after former QR Commissioner Jim Goldston and former QR Central Division General Manager Tom Keating.
“Today we also celebrate achievements, especially those of port manager the late Reg Tanna and QR’s Jim Goldston and Tom Keating.
“They and their teams set the base for what is now the world’s largest seaborne coal export trade,” said Ms Bligh.
Mr Tanna was the port’s engineer manager. He died in 2000 and both Messrs Goldston and Keating died last year.
Premiers – (07) 32244500
“Growth has been impressive - rising from 200,000 tonnes in 1960 to now where export capacity is about 200 million tonnes a year,” said Ms Bligh.
“This milestone expected to be hit in the next 18 months and there are forecasts it will hit 370 million tonnes in 20 years,” she said.
In praising the Gladstone Ports Corporation for its efforts she told coal companies, as well as buyers and traders from Japan, India and Korea, that the State Government was working with industry searching for clean coal solutions.
“The State and the coal companies, through our Clean Coal Council, are putting our money where our mouth is to ensure a green solution is found. It will be,” she said.
“This must happen to sustain the industry and its jobs, to protect the environment and to shore up the State’s long-term.”
Today’s official opening marks the Tanna Terminal’ s Expansion of 30million tonnes per annum from 40 to 70mtpa.
The expansion includes; the third rail receival station, third shiploader, fourth berth, fifth new stockpile and the speeding up of the out-loading belts from 4000tonnes per hour to 6000tph.
The Premier said that the future for the State’s coal exports looked bright.
“There is a $15 billion Coal Infrastructure Plan to cope with increased demand. There are 28 advanced coal projects in CQ alone with 17 new mines and 11 expansions under active consideration.
“Presently there are 40 operating mines throughout State.
“In the next five years the potential capital investment in CQ coal projects is of the order of $11.5 billion with a further $9 billion on coal transport infrastructure,” she said.
Ms Bligh said Gladstone Ports Corporation would continue to play a lead role.
"This is assured given expansions of GPC’s Wiggins Island - $4 billion terminal could be shipping 25 M/tpa year by 2012 and then ultimately 84 M/t a year.
“Also investigations have started into GPC’s Pt Alma, near Rocky, possibly exporting coal up to 30M/t a year.
“These dovetailed with the Surat Basin coming on line via the Southern Missing Link means a very exciting future indeed,” she said.
Ms Bligh also congratulated the Corporation for its efforts with the Expansion’s Indigenous youth employment program.
.
“It resulted in 13 out of 15 young indigenous people gaining permanent employment including 9 apprenticeships.
“So successful has it been Rio Tinto’s now implementing the same program developed by GPC on its expansion project targeting 45 indigenous youth,” she said.
Earlier in the day Ms Bligh joined with GPC and Queensland Rail executives to name coal train receival stations at the R. G. Tanna Terminal after former QR Commissioner Jim Goldston and former QR Central Division General Manager Tom Keating.
“Today we also celebrate achievements, especially those of port manager the late Reg Tanna and QR’s Jim Goldston and Tom Keating.
“They and their teams set the base for what is now the world’s largest seaborne coal export trade,” said Ms Bligh.
Mr Tanna was the port’s engineer manager. He died in 2000 and both Messrs Goldston and Keating died last year.
Premiers – (07) 32244500