Premier says coking coal to continue as important part of QLD economy

It’s a bit like the ’80s ad for Castrol, with its famous catchline “oils ain’t oils’’: Premier Steven Miles says “coals ain’t coals’’ and one crucial type will remain an important part of the economy.

Premier Steven Miles says thermal coal will decline but coking coal will continue to be important to the state. Picture: Cameron Laird

Coal used in making steel plays a critical part in renewable energy and will remain an important part of the Queensland economy for years to come, Premier Steven Miles says.

Mr Miles, responding to the LNP’s plan to keep the troubled Callide coal-fired power plant going after 2028, said it was important to transition away from thermal coal.

But he said coking coal, used in steel production, was an entirely different matter.

Queensland provides much of the world’s best-quality coking coal and increased royalties generated from the Labor government’s controversial “progressive’’ tiered scheme has funded billions in cost of living handouts and infrastructure projects.

“Coal will continue to be an important part of our economy,’’ Mr Miles said in response to a question from the Courier-Mail reader Margaret of Edmonton.

“We are the source of much of the world’s best coking coal, and about 80 per cent of our coal exports are coking coal for steel production.

“We will continue to need to produce steel for wind turbines, for solar panels, as well as for everything else we still use it for.

“Our thermal coal will decline over time, but we will do that in a very managed way.

“We have committed to the jobs of all of the workers associated with our coal-fired generators.

“That job security guarantee has ensured that there will always be more jobs in that industry than there are now.’’

When posed Margaret’s question “what role does coal mining have to play in Queensland’s economy beyond 2028’’, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli also said state revenue was underpinned by coal but backed both thermal and coking forms of the mineral.

“If you look at how much of Queensland’s revenue is underpinned by minerals, particularly coal, you realise how important it is and it would be a massive mistake to put impediments in the way of the continuation of coal mining, and indeed the expansion of coal mining.

“Queensland coal is the most environmentally sustainable, it’s extracted to the highest environmental standards with the best workers’ rights in the world.

“So we absolutely should be passionate about a future for the coal industry while we also do our bit to transition to a renewable energy future.

“I believe that people who are living in coal mining communities and working in the coal mining industry should be proud, they should know they have a future under an LNP government.’’

Mr Crisafulli said his comments applied both to thermal and coking coal.

Originally published as Premier says coking coal to continue as important part of QLD economy