Aurizon to end Queensland coal export standoff?
Published by Stephanie Roker,
Editor
World Coal,
The Queensland coal industry is prepared to accept the independent competition regulator’s final decision on Aurizon’s rail maintenance budget and Aurizon should declare the same immediately and end the coal export impasse.
Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said Aurizon should co-operate with the Queensland Competition Authority, immediately resume its normal maintenance programme on the Central Queensland Coal Network and end coal export impasse it started.
In its submission lodged with the QCA on 1 June, the QRC has noted the regulator’s preliminary position was for Aurizon’s rail maintenance budget to be increased by AUS$73 million over four years, pending Aurizon itself providing the QCA with more information to support its position.
The QRC estimates the cost of Aurizon’s plan to stop the movement of up to 20 million tpy under its new maintenance regime would costs up to a AUS$4 billion tpy in lost Queensland export revenue and up to a AUS$500 million cut in royalties paid to the Palaszczuk Government for to reinvest in services and infrastructure for all Queenslanders.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/04062018/aurizon-to-end-queensland-coal-export-standoff/
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