Barney Point ends coal exports

The Barney Point Terminal at Queensland’s Port of Gladstone shipped its final coal in May after almost fifty years of handling coal, Gladstone Ports Corp. (GPC) said in a press release. The terminal will now focus on other dry bulk commodities, said Leo Zussino, Chairman of GPS.

“In 2008, as part of GPC’s commitment to a healthier environment for the Gladstone community, GPC announced that coal operations at Barney Point Terminal would cease during the first year of continuous operations at the Wiggins Island Coal Terminal (WICT),” said Zussino. “This commitment has now been fulfilled.

The Barney Point Coal Terminal was constructed in 1967 by the joint venture Thiess Peabody Mitsui with first shipment of 1600 t in August of that year. GPC purchased the facility in 1998 from BHP Mitsui Coal in 1998, extending the capacity of its bulk handling operations.

Final coal export occurred on 19 May after Barney Point received its last coal train on 7 May.

The end of coal export operations at the terminal will not impact permanent employee numbers, said GPC Acting CEO Michael Galt. Gladstone continues to handle coal through the RG Tanna Coal Terminal.

Demand for Queensland coal remains strong despite the industry downturn. According to figures from the Queensland Resources Council, the Australian state exported 19.5 million t of coal in May, an increase of 8.6% on the same period in 2015. For the 11 months to May, Queensland’s exports jumped to 202 million t, compared to 199 million over the same period in 2014 – 2015.

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/handling/10062016/barney-point-ends-coal-exports-2016-947/