Queensland Resources Council news

In the Queensland Resources Council’s latest State of the Sector report, 52% of resources chiefs said they would increase employment over the next quarter with 13% looking to increase employment ‘substantially.’

We are now only a few days away from Aurizon announcing its decision on its rail maintenance.

Exploration is an important indicator of confidence in the resources sector, and greenfield exploration demonstrates the sector’s willingness to explore for larger deposits, QRC states.

“Aurizon should co-operate with the Queensland Competition Authority, immediately resume its normal maintenance programme on the Central Queensland Coal Network and end the coal export impasse it started.”

The QCA’s request for more information about the monopoly rail operator is a further sign of Aurizon’s inability to explain its change to maintenance services.

Queensland’s Premier has called for Aurizon and the Queensland Competition Authority to resolve Aurizon’s threat to halt the movement of up to 20 million t of coal to export ports.

The increased projections stem from the strong international demand for metallurgical coal, and the stable prices for both metallurgical and thermal coal from Queensland.

Japanese steelmakers have raised concerns about Aurizon’s actions to restrict the movement of metallurgical coal from central Queensland mines to export ports.

Aurizon’s reduction in the number of coal trains will cut AUS$4 billion from Queensland exports and AUS$500 million in annual royalties paid by the industry to the Queensland Government.

The Queensland Resources Council has said that the Palaszczuk Government should support a Queensland HELE coal-fired power plant, in order to strengthen the region’s trade and energy leadership.