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Back onCommentsChina looks to resume Aussie coal imports

Chinese bureaucrats studying the energy outlook are proposing to end a near two-year ban on Australian coal as tensions begin to ease.

Bloomberg

Critical mineralsCommentsPremiumS&P concerned over mineral supplies for energy transition

S&P Global vice chairman Daniel Yergin has stressed the importance of Australia’s role in green supply chains and says global action is needed to ensure there are sufficient supplies of minerals.

Danielle Le Messurier

Leadership test CommentsPremiumMethane spewing coal mines a climate test for Albanese

Australia’s coal mines cause more planetary warming in a typical year than emissions from all of the country’s cars. If Prime Minister Albanese wants to meet tougher climate targets, he’ll need to fix that.

Nicholas Swee Yang Lua and Aaron Clark

opinion
opinion
Only salvationComments
opinion
Are exports the answer to coal miners’ prayers?

The closure of WA’s state-owned coal-fired power plants won’t necessarily spell the end of coal mining in Collie. But the town’s two miners are going to need new customers to survive.

Sean Smith

Sean Smith

Clean-up billBig clean-up bill scared buyers away from BHP’s coal mine

BHP has decided to retain its New South Wales Energy Coal business ahead of a slated closure in 2030 after hefty mine rehabilitation costs proved a sticking point to its sale.

Stuart McKinnon and Daniel Newell

Supply chain issuesCommentsPremiumExpensive battery storage a risk to WA coal transition plan

The rising cost of batteries looms as a potential downside risk for the McGowan Government’s $3.8 billion green energy infrastructure push, according to an analyst from Wood Mackenzie.

Danielle Le Messurier

Green transition CommentsPremiumWA well placed to exit coal, experts say

Western Australia can afford to farewell the bulk of its coal-fired power by the end of the decade because of its “tremendous” endowments, which include large natural gas reserves. 

Danielle Le Messurier

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
New eraCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Countdown on as Collie set to become green energy powerhouse

With the Collie coal plant on track to shut down production, WA is in prime position to take advantage of the renewable power revolution.

Josh Zimmerman, Peter Law & Caitlyn Rintoul

More setbacksPremiumCoal unit will be out for longer: AGL

As the energy debate continues to generate political heat, AGL says one of its units at Victoria's Loy Yang plant will remain offline until late September.

Paul Osborne

Coal crisisOrigin hammered on earnings guidance retreat

Investors have punished Origin Energy after it withdrew earnings guidance for the next financial year amid what it described as “extreme volatility across commodity markets”.

Daniel Newell

No-goCommentsPremiumHESTA stands with Cannon-Brookes against AGL demerger

One of Australia’s most powerful industry superannuation funds says it will vote against demerger plans put forward by the country’s biggest energy company that have been labelled “a turd rolled in glitter”. 

Daniel Newell

No dealPremiumCollie miner denies Synergy equity deal already agreed

Under a $50 million agreement struck in 2014, the State Government-owned electricity retailer could end up with 25 per cent in the Chinese-controlled miner.

Sean Smith

Deep freezeAussie coal phased out by China retreat

Researchers at the Australian National University tip a plunge in coal exports to energy fortress China, even if the unofficial freeze on trade were to end.

Marion Rae

‘Careful consideration’PremiumRio quits mining lobby group over coal stance

Rio Tinto has quit its membership of the Queensland Resources Council just months after the mining heavyweight flagged its advocacy was not aligned to its coal and energy policies.

Adrian Lowe

Renewables visionCommentsPremiumTwiggy to consider buying US coal power plants

WA mining billionaire Andrew Forrest is considering investing in US power stations and converting them to run on renewable energy as part of his green hydrogen ambition. 

Staff writer

Coal heatPremiumGriffin whacked over report deadline, director breaches

The corporate watchdog has charged the battling Griffin Coal Mining Company with failing to meet financial reporting requirements and failing to have a director in Australia.

Neale Prior

‘Limited capacity’CommentsPremiumEurope can’t rely on Australia to fill power void: New Hope

Producers of power station coal in Australia, the second-biggest exporter, have only limited capacity to send cargoes to Europe to help replace Russian fuel, according to a Brisbane-based miner.

James Thornhill

Coal lossPremiumLate Griffin Coal accounts provide breathing space

The loss-making coal miner’s lenders say their loans aren’t due for at least another 12 months.

Sean Smith

investigation
investigation
The nuclear optionCommentsPremium
investigation
Why is emissions-free nuclear energy still an Aussie taboo?

It is a guaranteed source of emissions-free energy but building nuclear reactors in Australia is a taboo subject. With the world’s leading economies embracing the technology, why doesn’t it stack up down under?

James Salmon

ASIC WINCommentsPremiumJudge rubber stamps $750,000 fine for Rio’s coal bungle

Rio Tinto will pay a $750,000 fine, plus legal costs, for failing to keep the share market updated about a failed foray into a coal venture in Mozambique.

Neale Prior and Sean Smith

Hot, hot, hotPremiumCoal miners rise on record thermal prices amid Russia fears

Benchmark thermal coal in Asia, the largest market for the fuel, has soared 46 per cent to a record as concerns about disruption to supplies from Russia turbocharge concerns over tight energy markets.

David Stringe

Rio Tinto finePremiumASIC to wind up Rio Tinto pursuit with $750,000 fine

ASIC had alleged the global miner hid the deterioration of its $US4 billion buyout of Riversdale Mining in 2011 from investors.

Sean Smith

Virus concernsCommentsPremiumEmeco cautious on border after hitting profit target

Mining fleet hire group Emeco has hit its profit forecast, despite disruptive heavy rains in NSW and Queensland and the labour shortage in WA.

Sean Smith

Allowed inCommentsChina lets in Australian coal stranded at its ports

Most of the Australian coal used by steelmakers that was being held at Chinese ports in the wake of Beijing’s import ban has now been cleared.