Multimodal—coal and minerals infrastructure
Our role
Rail
Port of Abbot Point
Port of Hay Point
Port of Gladstone
Projects
Coal industry growth
At Queensland Transport, we play an important role in the expansion of our state's natural resource industries, including our leading export—coal.
The transportation of coal is achieved through a multimodal network of roads, railways and ports. We are working together with government-owned rail and port corporations, and liaising with industry bodies and transport providers to ensure this network, and future transport planning and policies, meet the growing demands of the coal industry.
There are currently 48 operating coal mines in Queensland, with more mines planned and a number of coal deposits being evaluated.
Coal transport infrastructure is provided on a fully commercial basis, with contracts between miners and transport service providers. We are expanding and developing this infrastructure to sustain and grow Queensland's major export industry.
Coal is transported by QR from the mines via the Newlands, Goonyella, Blackwater, Moura and West Moreton rail systems to the four coal exporting ports in Queensland at Abbot Point, Hay Point, Gladstone, and Brisbane, and to power stations at Stanwell, Gladstone, and Swanbank, as well as various industrial users. Since 2005, QR has invested over A$2.9 billion to expand coal rail and rollingstock capacity.
The Port of Abbot Point is located approximately 25 kilometres north of Bowen, and comprises the Abbot Point Coal Terminal. In 2006–07, the terminal exported 11.2 million tonnes of metallurgical and thermal coal. Works have recently been completed to expand the terminal to 21 million tonnes a year costing A$116 million. Further expansions are being planned to increase the capacity of Abbot Point to 50 million tonnes a year, with earliest delivery by 2011 costing A$818 million. Possible future expansions to 75 million tonnes are also being considered. The terminal is owned by the Ports Corporation of Queensland and operated by Abbot Point Bulk Coal Pty Ltd an Xstrata subsidiary.
The Port of Hay Point is located just south of Mackay and comprises two terminals. The Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal was originally developed by the Queensland Government as a common-user coal terminal for mines in the Goonyella region in the early 1980s. Today, the terminal is leased to Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Limited, and operated by a separate company controlled by the users. In 2006–07, the terminal exported 49.9 million tonnes of metallurgical and thermal coal from the Bowen Basin. Phase one of the Stage 7X expansion was completed in March 2008 bringing the terminal's nominal capacity to 68 million tonnes. Phases two and three are to be completed by December 2008, which will bring terminal's total capacity to 85 million tonnes. Total cost of the Stage 7X project is A$1.2 billion.
The adjoining Hay Point Services Terminal was originally owned and operated exclusively by Utah Development Company. Today, the terminal is owned and managed by BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance. In 2006–07, the terminal exported 36.4 million tonnes of metallurgical and thermal coal from the Bowen Basin.
The total combined capacities of both terminals will be 129 million tonnes a year once current expansions are completed.
The Port of Gladstone currently has two coal terminals (RG Tanna and Barney Point) and six additional wharf centres comprising 14 berths. The RG Tanna Coal Terminal is owned and managed by the Gladstone Ports Corporation. In 2006–07, the terminal exported 45.2 million tonnes of metallurgical and thermal coal from the Bowen Basin. The RG Tanna Coal Terminal has recently been expanded to 68 million tonnes capacity, costing A$780 million.
The Barney Point Coal Terminal is also owned and managed by the Central Queensland Ports Authority. In 2006–07, the terminal exported 6.3 million tonnes of metallurgical and thermal coal.
The development of a third coal terminal (Wiggins Island Coal Terminal) is currently being investigated and is expected to be built in three stages. Once all stages are completed the terminal is expected to have a total capacity of 70 million tonnes and cost A$3.8 billion. If approved, stage one of the terminal is expected to be completed by 2012 and will have a capacity of 25 million tonnes.
The Port of Brisbane is located in Brisbane, with the port's limits extending geographically from Caloundra to the southern tip of Moreton Island and also extends 16 km up the Brisbane River to Breakfast Creek. Established as a statutory authority in 1976, it was corporatised in 1994 under the Government Owned Corporations Act 1993. On the 1 July 2007, the Port of Brisbane Corporation changed from a statutory to a company Government Owned Corporation. One of the major exporting commodities is coal.
Coal is exported from berth 1 and is operated by Queensland Bulk Handling Pty Ltd. Storage capacity at the berth is 360 000 tonnes and can load approximately 3 000 tonnes per hour. Thermal coal is mined from the Jeebropilly, Oakleigh, Acland, and Wilkie Creek collieries in the Ipswich, West Moreton and Surat Basin and is transported to the port by rail. In 2006/07, the Port of Brisbane exported over 4.2 million tonnes of coal to Japan, Unites States, Chilie and New Caledonia.
Projects
Future major coal infrastructure projects include:
- Northern Missing Llink – is a new northern rail link that will join the Goonyella Rail System to the Newlands Rail System, and access the Port of Abbot Point. Project is expected to be completed by March 2010 at a total cost of A$1.04 billion.
- Surat Basin Railway - a possible southern rail link to join the Surat Basin coalfields to the Moura Rail System, providing access to the Port of Gladstone.
The increase in railed coal over the past decade has averaged 8.22 per cent a year. Total railed coal in 2006-07 was 164 million tonnes a year in 2006–07, with growth in the past year comprising 11.3 million tonnes (7.4 per cent). For 2006-07, 10.8 million tonnes a year of railed coal is used for domestic consumption, primarily for electricity generation, with the balance exported to more than 34 countries.
Exports of Queensland coal have increased from 79.6 million tonnes in 1996–97 to 153.2 million tonnes valued at approximately A$16.3 billion in 2006–07.
Expansion of coal transport infrastructure is currently being planned to handle a forecast 244 million tonnes a year being railed in 2009–10, with virtually all of this extra coal being for export. This will require investment in rail and port transport infrastructure of more than A$5.4 billion during this period. Further growth in demand for Queensland's premium coking and steaming coals is forecast beyond this time.
Last updated 21 April 2008
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