According the Minerals Council of Australia, the majority of Australians support the coal sector.
The council has launched a new website – australiansforcoal.com.au – to give the majority who support coal a voice against activists who are attempting to destroy the industry.
Support for coal
Public and private polling over a number of years has shown consistently strong support for Australia’s coal sector, the 200 000 jobs it supports, the AU$ 40 billion in export income it will generate this year alone, and the AU$ 5 billion in wages and AU$ 4 billion in royalties it pays annually.
Australiansforcoal.com.au will give the majority of Australians who support the coal sector a chance to have a say will prevent a small number of ‘noisy extremists’ to create the false impression that the community does not support Australia’s second largest export sector.
Export forecasts
The export forecasts for coal are strong and the outlook for a continued strong contribution to economic growth over coming decades. Coal will remain the region’s primary source of affordable energy and the basis of its energy security.
The industry's opponents refuse to accept or understand that it is possible to have a strong coal sector and a low emissions economy. Modern coal-fired power stations are reducing CO2 emissions by 30% and carbon capture and storage is a reality with 21 large-scale CCS projects in operation or construction, a 50% increase since 2011.
Comments
Minerals Council CEO, Brendan Pearson, commented: “The campaign to end coal production and exports will fail, not least because the activists cannot explain what will be used to build the bridges, schools, hospitals and the fast trains of the future. Every tonne of steel produced in basic oxygen furnaces contains about 770 kg of coal. And without coal there will be no wind energy - there is 250 tonnes of coal in every wind turbine.
“Australiansforcoal.com.au will help start to set the record straight,” he concluded.
Edited from various sources by Katie Woodward