COAL PROJECTS IN QUEENSLAND

By: Zoe Lovett

Kevin’s Corner Mine Project

Kevin’s Corner is a coal mine that will be situated in central Queensland.

This mine is supposed to be capable of producing 30 million tonnes (2,205 lbs.) of thermal coal annually for the export market for a 30 year period.

Project was approved on November 1st of 2013

Expected to be constructed in 2015

First coal to be produced in 2018

Advantages

• Approximately 2,500 mine jobs will be created

• Significant export income

• Significant taxes and royalties generated for the State and the Nation

• Opportunity to create a viable coal resource for the economy

• Would fill the gap between existing global coal production and demand worldwide.

Coal

Advantages Easily transported to many areas of

the world

Least expensive fossil fuel

Can be used to build power stations almost anywhere if there are large amounts of them

Disadvantages Must be mined and strip mines ruin

habitats

Underground mining is very dangerous and many miner’s lives are lost

Non-renewable and quickly depleting

Limitations

• Although this project will increase population, many limiting factors in the community will reduce the likeliness of an unmanageable population boom

• Limited land available for expansion• Limited electricity available to supply the community• Limited water supply for the community• Lack of an integrated community sewerage system• Limited businesses to support an increased population;• Limited available services• Limited schooling and child care • Limited opportunities for spouses/partners and families of potential mine workers.

Economics

• This Project will result in positive economic impacts throughout the regional, state and Australian economies.

• Peak employment of 4,105 full time positions during construction

• Peak employment of 7,258 full time positions during operation

• Peak value of approximately $424.40 million during construction and approximately $984.66 million during operation

• A total export of approximately 856 million metric tons of coal for export from Queensland with a value of approximately $67.8 billion