Latest news with #coal
The Guardian
an hour ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Adani claims its export program helps contribute to sustainable energy – but experts say that's ‘wilful disinformation'
An Adani claim that its Australian export program, whereby coal is sent through the Great Barrier Reef's shipping channels, is advancing the United Nations' sustainable development goals has been denounced by leading scientists. Adani's Queensland export site claims its operations 'ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all', which is one of the UN's 17 sustainable development goals. Australia, along with other UN members, adopted the goals in 2015, designed to address global challenges including poverty, justice, environmental degradation and climate change. The relevant UN goal is chiefly concerned with providing affordable and clean energy, which it says requires a substantial increase in renewable energy. Adani's North Queensland Export Terminal (NQXT) near Bowen has the capacity to export 50m tonnes of coal a year. In its latest sustainability report, NQXT says it supports the UN goal by 'enabling the export of high-quality Australian coal to the world'. One of Australia's leading experts on the development goals, Prof John Thwaites, said the word 'sustainable' in the UN goal was key. 'I would argue that to 'support the advancement of the sustainable development goals', energy and port operations need to support sustainable energy,' said Thwaites, the chair of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute. 'Simply exporting coal is not achieving or supporting the sustainability objective of the goals.' Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton's Clear Air column as a free newsletter He said there were also numerous references in the UN goals for the need to take action on climate change, and that 'simply exporting coal which will be burned and produce greenhouse gas emissions overseas' is not supportive of this. Another leading expert on the UN agenda, Dr Cameron Allen, said the intention of the energy development goal was to 'focus on sustainable energy and clean energy and I don't think fossil fuels or coal falls into that'. 'I don't think anyone would agree that it's in line with the aims of that goal,' said Allen, from Monash University. 'Exporting coal isn't in line with the sentiment … or the language of the goal, which includes the word sustainable. The international climate change agreements also make it clear that burning fossil fuels is not sustainable.' Guardian Australia has been scrutinising various claims made by Adani after finding that its Carmichael coal operation has paid zero corporate tax in more than three years of operation, and may never do so. The Indian conglomerate had pledged to plough billions of dollars into the Australian economy through taxes and royalties when it was going through the contested approvals process to establish an open-cut coalmine in the Galilee Basin. In response to questions about how its operations advance the UN sustainability goals, a spokesperson for Adani's Australian mining business, which is branded Bravus Mining and Resources, said coal exports helped combat poverty. Sign up to Clear Air Australia Adam Morton brings you incisive analysis about the politics and impact of the climate crisis after newsletter promotion 'Developing nations in the Asia Pacific region use coal from the Carmichael mine alongside renewables to provide reliable and affordable energy solutions that help reduce poverty and power growth,' the Bravus spokesperson said. Adani's port facility website also says its operations align with a UN goal to protect terrestrial ecosystems by managing its water on-site next to neighbouring wetlands. Traditional owners have raised concerns over the threat posed by the coal operations to the nearby Caley Valley, in claims rejected by Adani. In 2017 and 2019, flood waters were released from the port into the wetland. In the 2017 incident, the Queensland government later found the water that turned areas of the wetlands black from coal dust had not caused a widespread impact. Adani's Carmichael mine, rail and port operation is among the most politically divisive projects in Australia, given it has opened up new fossil fuel reserves in a sensitive location at a time the country has pledged to transition to renewables. Claire Snyder, director of watchdog group Climate Integrity, said the NQXT claim amounted to aggressive greenwashing. 'Framing coal exports as a contribution to sustainable development undermines global climate goals, misleads the public, and uses the authority of the UN to legitimise ongoing harm,' Snyder said. 'Given what we know about coal's role in driving climate breakdown, this is wilful disinformation and meaningless sustainability waffle to protect the social licence of coal.'
The Australian
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Australian
Bowen Coking Coal faces uncertain future as administrators appointed
Hundreds of mining jobs are in jeopardy after a coal miner struggled to pay back royalties and investors, resulting in the company appointing administrators. Bowen Coking Coal appointed McGrathNicol voluntary administrators on Tuesday after it failed to secure fresh capital and negotiate new terms with its two biggest creditors – BUMA Australia and the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO). The company told ASX the decision to appoint administrators was disappointing and followed the QRO's rejection for a short-term deferral of royalties. Bowen Coking Coal has appointed McGrathNicol as administrators after it failed to find fresh capital and negotiate new terms with creditors. 'The board's decision also reflects the current challenging environment for the coal industry in Queensland from higher costs, lower global coal prices and higher royalty rates introduced by the Queensland government in 2022,' the statement read. 'The Burton Mine Complex (Burton) is a quality asset, and management has been successful in delivering operational improvements that have seen the company transform Burton into one of the most productive and low-cost metallurgical coal mines in Australia. 'The administration process is expected to provide a window which will allow for a sale or recapitalisation to be completed.' The company warned in June it was under extreme pressure from a depressed coal markets and the Queensland government's 'unsustainable coal royalty regime'. Bowen Coking Coal warned in June it was under extreme pressure from a depressed coal market and the Queensland government's 'unsustainable coal royalty regime.' Picture: YouTube Bowen chair Nick Jorss told The Courier Mail soaring state royalties and low prices are to blame for the crisis being felt by central Queensland. 'We're not the only ones on the edge. Quite a lot of mines in central Queensland are cash negative, meaning a lot of jobs are at risk.' Bowen operate Burton which includes operations near Moranbah, Ellensfield South, Plumtree North, Lenton and Isaac. It also has other assets at the Broadmeadow East Mine and Bluff Mine near Blackwater, as well as other projects and joint ventures in Queensland. A statement from McGrathNicol said they had taken control of Bowen's operations and would continue to trade while they looked for a new buyer or fresh capital. 'This includes the operations at the Burton Mine Complex located in the Bowen Basin of Queensland, which will continue uninterrupted,' the statement read. Shares will be suspended during the administration process
Reuters
a day ago
- Business
- Reuters
Germany's energy use rises 2.3% in first half of 2025
FRANKFURT, July 29 (Reuters) - Germany's energy use rose 2.3% in the first half of 2025, industry statistics group AGEB said on Tuesday, citing cooler weather and a small uptick in economic performance as drivers. Energy usage in Europe's biggest economy increased to 187.3 million metric tons of coal equivalent, an industry standard measure, from 183.1 million in the first six months of 2024, AGEB's January-June report showed. Usage for the whole of 2024, opens new tab was 359.6 million tons, down 1.1% on the year before. In the first half of 2025, natural gas usage rose by 4.7%, while light heating oil was up by nearly 18% due to weather patterns, AGEB said. Usage of imported hard coal was flat overall, but varied between sectors. Coal inputs in power stations rose by 23% as more conventional power was needed to offset weather-related declines in wind and hydro-electric generation. However, photovoltaic power consumption increased by 25%. The steel industry, on the other hand, used 12% less hard coal, in line with its lower pig iron production. AGEB estimated that the increase in thermal power plants' production led to 2.6% more CO2 emissions in the six months. *Energy use numbers in million tons coal equivalent units. One unit equals 29.308 petajoules. Table allows for rounding errors.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Asian Coal Prices Climb to Highest Since February on Summer Heat
Asia's coal price benchmark rose to a five-month high after hot summer weather boosted demand for air conditioning and reduced brimming inventories. Australian Newcastle futures rose to $115.50 per ton, the highest for the front-month contract since February. Coal-fired power generation in Tokyo hit the highest level in 10 months on Friday amid higher-than-normal temperatures. Japan is a major importer of Australian coal.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
China's Coal Pipeline Risks Creating Glut, Blowing Climate Goals
China's proposed coal mine developments risk creating an oversupply and derailing climate goals, according to Global Energy Monitor. More than 450 sites are in development across China, with nearly 40% under construction or in test operation, according to the California-based researcher, which promotes clean energy use. If they are all built, their combined capacity of 1.35 billion tons a year would surpass that operating in Indonesia and Australia, the biggest exporters of the power-generation and steelmaking fuel.
